In the Prussian Diet on Wednesday, Dr. Falk, the author
of the Falk Laws, made a declaration that nothing would induce the Government to give up the restrictive ecclesiastical legislation aimed at the Catholic Church,—stating that "the possession of the present legal powers has been, and continues to be, a necessity for the proper administration of the country." What ho meant was that it has been, and continues to be, a necessity for the pride of the man who originated these silly and obsolete enactments. On the other hand, Dr. Falk said, "A peace-loving Pope is now on the Throne, who has in many ways given proof of his love of peace. The German Government was and still is ready to conclusle peace on the basis of the Crown Prince's letter to the Pope, but though there may be a mutual desire for a pacific settlement, matters cannot proceed as quickly as might be wished." That is a little mystifying. We conclude that if nothing is to be given up, and yet peace is to be made, the solution must be that some of the severest of the Falk Laws, though retained in terrorem, are to be allowed to drop into abeyance.
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