THE POPE AND THE EMPEROR.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 5, 30 May 1890, Page 19

THE POPE AND THE EMPEROR.

(Boman correspondence of the Liverpool Catiwlie Times.) The letter addressed by the German Kmperor to the Holy Father is taken in Rome as indicating a. disposition on his Majesty's part to cultivate good relations not only with the Vatican but also with the members of the Centre Party. Of course it is of the utmost importance to him to secure the support of the Centre, and it may be that this arnere pensee lurks in the letter which he addressed to the Holy Father. All the same his courteous and raspecUal attitude towards the head of the Catholic Church must be looked upon with gratification by all Catholics, who cannot fail to remark the contrast it presents when compared with the action of the Italian King and Government. The German Emperor wrote :

" Most August Pontiff. — The splendid manifestations by which your Holiness has always made your influence felt in favour of the poor and destitute of maokizd inspire me with the hope that the International Conference which, on my invitation, will assemble at Berlin on the 15th of this month will attract the interest of your Holiness, and that you will follow with sympathy the progress of the deliberations, whose aim will be to ameliorate the lot of the working clessee. In these circumstances, I consider it my duty to commuuieaie to your Holineßßthe programme which will serve as a basis for the labours of the Conference, the success of which would be singularly facilitated if your Holiness would lend your benevolent &upport to the work of humanity in which lam engaged. I have therefore invited the Prince Bishop of Breslau, wbo I know ia thoroughly imbued with the ideas of your Holinese, to take part in the Conference as my delegate. I willingly take tbis opportunity again to assure }our Holiness of my esteem and of my personal devotion." This letter was signed by Prince Bismarck as well as by the Emperor. The Holy Father wrote in reply . " Your Majesty, — We thank your Majesty [or the letter you have been pleased to write with a view to interest U8 in the International Cairtrence which ia about to assemble at Berlin, with the object of findiug means to improve the condition of the workiug classes. It is particularly agreeable to Ui to congratulate your Majesty on having taken to heart a cause so noble, so wormy of serious attention, which interests so deeply the whole world. 1 his cause has nevei ceased to engrot>B Us, and the work undertaken by your Majesty responds to one of Our dearest wisht o We have already, as We are reminded, expretsed Our thoughts on this subject, aud in Our utterances We have strongly upheld the teaching of the Catholic Church, of which We are the head. On a more re-cent occasion We again releired to this teaching, and with a view to the jua v solution of this difficult and important prob.em, and to the proper safeguarding of the legitimate interests of the industrial clashes, We pointed out to the various Governments the duties and special obligations which are incumbent on them. Undoubtedly, combined action on the pait of the various Governments will gieatly coatnbute to the success of the end so much deßirtd. Unanimity t.f views and legislation in the teveral countries will tend greatly to advance the general icquiry towards an equitable conclusion. Thus We canuot but welcome most favouiably all the deliberations of the Conference which are likely to raise the condition of the working classes, as, for example, discussions upon the arrangement of hours ot labour ia a manner more suited to ti.e especial characteristics of each wjiker, the age or tae sex of the labourer, rest on the Lord's Day, and, in general, a discussion upon all those matters whichi tend to degrade the labourer to the position of a vile icstrum.nt, and have nj regard for his dignity as a man, his mora>B, or his domestic well-being. It canDOt, however, tscipthe notice cf your Majesty that the successful solution of a maitei of this importance will iequire, besides the wise intervention of the civil authority, the powerlul co-operation of religion and the benevolent intervention ot the Church. The religious tentiment, indeed, is the only thiDg that can gire authority to law ; and the Gospel is the only code containing lue principles of true justice and those maxims ot mutual cnatity which should unite all man as children cf the same Father and members of the same fam'ly. Religio i teaches the employer to rtspect the dignity of the workman ana to treat him with justice and equity. It inculcates in the labourer a feeliDg of duty and responsibility, and makes him moral, sober, and

honest. It ia because society has neglected and misunderstood the principles of religion that it is now disturbed to its very foundations. To recall these principles and to fill them with new life is the only way to re-establish society and to assure to it peace, order, and prosperity. Now it is the mission of the Church to preach and scattpr abroad throughout the world these principles and doctrines. It is fitting, therefore, that it should exercise a large influence in the solution of the social problem. This influence We have exercised, and We snail continue to exercise it especially for the ameliora'ion of the working classes. The bishops and the lesser clergy on their part will follow out these lines in their «rarious dioce*ts ; and We hope that this salutary action of the Church, far from meeting with opposition from the civil Powers, will receive from them aid and protection. We have, as assurance of this, in the first place, the interest that the various Governments are attaching to this grave question, and in the secand place the kind invitation that your Majesty has just addressed to Us. Mpanwhile, We earnestly pray that the work of the Conference may be full of the moat beneficial results, and thoroughly satisfy the general expectation. Before closing We wish to express here Our pleasure in learning that your Mijesty has invited to take part in the Conference, as a delegate, Mgr. Kopp, Prince-Bishop ot Breslau. He will certainly feel greatly honoured by this mark of your Majesty's esteem upon this occasion. Finally, it is with the liveliest satisfaction that We express to your Majesty Our most sincere wishes for your Majesty's prosperity and for that of the Royal Family."