INFORMERS AND THE FALCS LAWS. [TO THB EDITOR or THE
usrsomexos:1
trust you will grant me room for the following illustration of the all-pervading despotism which now weighs down the Catholics of Prussia. Few Englishmen, I believe, would credit without difficulty that so detestable a revival of the worst features of by-gone penal times illustrates the " regenerated " rule of Imperial Prusao-Germany— : "From West Prussia," writes the Berlin correspondent of the Allgemeine Zeitung of Monday last, "wretched news comes of the evil products of the 'culture-conflict.' Informerism,'—Denuncian- tenthum—is in full bloom, and is progressively exercised in a most thoroughly detestable fashion. Thus a school-teacher at Neustadt, in West Prussia, made his confession to the father- guardian, in order immediately afterwards to accuse him to the Government Prosecutor of breach of the May laws. At the trial, another school-teacher, who had also confessed to the same priest; played the part of witness. The Court condemned the father, on account of illegal hearing of confesaion—wegen gesetztoidrigen. Beichtehorens—to a fine of 100 marks, or the alternative of ten days imprisonment."
It is to be hoped that the Turks do not hear of these examples of religious liberty and Christian honour "as in Europe."—I am,. Sir, &c.,
Previous page
