It will be seen by an article we publish elsewhere
that there is a divergence between Prince Bismarck and the German Liberals as to the best method of treating the Catholic ecclesiastics. This divergence came out very clearly in the debate on Saturday on the position of the Jesuits, a debate ending in a resolution calling on the Emperor to assume power to " regulate " all religious orders. The Chancellor threatens to withdraw all State assistance unless his orders are obeyed. The orators of the majority threaten to abolish the right of preaching and teaching unless it is exercised in accordance with Liberal views. He promises to secure freedom of conscience for everybody, they to secure it for everybody except Ultramontane Catholics. He is bent on Cavour's policy of " a free Church in a free State;" they on the Tudor policy,—a Catholic Church taught doc- trine by the State. The policy adopted will probably be the Chancellor's, but it is a remarkable fact that the address praying the Government to fetter the Catholic Orders was voted for by all the Catholics; not avowedly Ultramontanes or Poles,—that is, as was stated in the debate, by nearly half the Catholic Members. Is history to repeat itself, and the Emperor William to be acknow- ledged, like Henry VIII., head of a Church still Romanist in all but obedience to Rome ?
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