Prince Bismarck's attempt to lay a ghost with artillery has
failed, and he has admitted it. In a speech on the 12th inst. to the Prussian House of Lords, he abandoned the May Laws, which he declared he did not even accurately know, as mere "means of combat." They were in themselves valueless. He had gone over the head of the Central Party straight to Rome, where the Pope was not a Particularist, not a Pole, and not a " Liberalist," but a " wise, moderate, and pacific" gentleman, " a pure Catholic, and nothing but a Catholic." He had negotiated with his Holiness, who had demanded the revision of the May Laws, and, as he would not now approach the Centre Party without first showing the Catholics of Prussia that the Pope was in accord with him, ho hoped the May Laws would be re- pealed. This is a great victory for Rome, which has given up nothing ; and on Tuesday the Pope enjoyed another, in Madrid, where the Premier told the Cortes that the Liberal Party " re- nounced its distrust of the clergy, and would work with them in social questions." The conflict will recommence, of course, but the Courts begin to perceive that in fighting spiritual powers one must employ spiritual weapons. No Church can be overthrown by persecution if the latter stops short of extirpation,
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