21 JANUARY 1995, Page 16

One hundred years ago

THE CULTURKAMPF in Germany has come to a final end, the Reichstag having voted that the Jesuits shall be readmitted into the Empire. There is some doubt whether the Federal Coun- cil will agree to this vote, Bavaria being most reluctant to readmit the Order; but the necessity for obtaining the sup- port of the Centre for the anti-Anar- chist proposals will probably overcome all resistance. We do not care about the Jesuits one way or another, believing that the effect of their action differs greatly in different States — here, for instance, they are successful chiefly in education — but we are always pleased to see a purely mental force defeat a physical one; and the resistance of the Papacy to the masters of legions has therefore our sympathy. There is not an argument used by Prince Bismarck against the freedom of the Roman priesthood, which is not an equally good argument against the Press. Journalists can mislead just as much as Jesuits, and often do.

The Spectator 19 January 1894