BISMARCK AND HIS WORK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 111, 12 June 1875, Page 5

BISMARCK AND HIS WORK.

" Vanity Fair," a periodical of which the Prince of "Wales is the reputed proprietor, hits fair at " Bismarck the Disturber." In an article published in a late issue, it says : —

The ' Times ' has been lately doing its best to earn Prince BiamarcVs gratitude by its vigorous attacks against Catholicism, which has not assailed, or sought to assail, a single established law of this country, and its no less vigorous defence of our British Pro* testantism, -which has never been in danger. Whether the man of " blood and. iron " will show himself duly grateful for this persistent and systematic identification of the principles of Bismarckism with those of true Evangelical religion is a question which does not concern us. At any rate, in the present condition of European affairs the great joiirnal is doing him much useful service with the friends of Mr. Whalley and the readers of Mr. Gladstone's pamphlets. The man of " blood and iron " is ungovernable in his wrath and intemperate in his speech, but there is a method in his paroxysms of temper and language. For .the present it has pleased him to stir up a religious war in Europe under pretence of coercing the Vatican. Of this apparently gratuitous proceeding he has himself given the explanation in the German Parliament. After the humiliation of Austria and the subjection of France he was afraid that the Catholic countries in Germany would combine against Prussia with, the foes he had overthrown j and taking, therefore, advantage of the helplessness of the latter, he endeavored to deprive them in advance, before they had time to recover their strength, of what support they might eventually find amongst the South German Catholics. This he labored to effect by various means — by coercive laws, by measures directed against the influence of the Catholic clergy, by the expulsion of the Jesuits. But his efforts have turned against him, and produced the contrary result j instead of crushing the Catholics in detail he has united them all against him, in Germany and elsewhere. At this moment the French Catholics are in constant correspondence with their German co-religionists and the union of creeds is dissolving the unity achieved by the sword. Unsuccessful at home Prince Bismarck has equally failed abroad in forcing his policy upon the Catholic Powers. He demanded of Italy that she should restrain the Pope, as an Italian subject, meddling in the internal affairs of a foreign country, and he has met with a refusal which the ' Times ' vainly attempts to palliate by explaining that Berlin made no request, and therefore encountered no denial. For the first time the imperious will of the German Chancellor has failed to extort submission, and even such a small State as Belgium, which lives on the sufferance of its neighbours, declines to join him in his crusade against Koine. Foiled and baffled on all sides, it is to be feared that he will now bring matters to a crisis. The mad bull of Varzin is looking all round the circus for a foe that he can pin to the earth with his horns, and he has singled out France. The pretext will be soon found. " If there be an " offender," says the ' Times/ "it ia with the offender that Germany will deal face to face," and the Foreign Office at Berlin has already made out a case against France as the aider and abettor of the Pope's wicked designs against the peaceful subjects of William the First, who were never better armed or better prepared in every way than at present to rend what is left of France limb by limb. In the interest of the peace of Europe it is to be hoped that the Austrian Emperor will succeed at Venice in detaching Victor Emmanuel from the Prussian alliance : that Protestants will not be blinded by Prince Bismarck's Protestantism, or the Liberals by his Liberalism ; and that a league of Catholic Powers, supported by England, may keep the peace between German? and France.