JOTTINGS FROM EUROPE by H. P. Holser

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 3, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 56.

JOTTINGS FROM EUROPE.

By H. P. Holser

[From our own correspondent.]

Of late, European journals have not wanted for matter. Besides the many daily dispatches concerning the war between China and Japan, the sickness of the czar receives special attention. At the present writing his death is daily expected. The event is anticipated as a critical one for Europe. That it will have a material influence on the general state of affairs is evinced by the fact that exchange rises and falls, according to the latest news of the czar's condition.

In general, there is a great sympathy for him; he is regarded as a peace-loving man, and an important factor in the peace-assuring elements of Europe. Prayers for his recovery have been offered, not only all over Russia, but in other nations, especially in France. The extent of faith exercised in these prayers, however, is illustrated by an event which occurred in St. Petersburg. At the order of the czar's faithful cabinet, special prayers for his recovery were offered in the great cathedral. But while some were celebrating these prayers with great pomp and solemnity, others were engaged in another part of the same building in preparing ornaments with which to decorate the building in mourning at the first news of the czar's death.

The wedding of the czarowitz, set for October 29, was postponed, as at that time there were hopes of an improvement in the czar's condition; but it is expected that the marriage will take place before his death, that he may give his blessing to the future imperial pair. The German princess, Alix, who is soon to be the empress of Russia, is a Lutheran; but, as generally known, she can become empress only on condition that she join the Greek Church. A magnate of this church was sent to Germany to instruct her in her new faith, and, in due time, presented a creed for her to sign, but she refused. How the matter has been arranged has not come to my notice.

Like a peal of thunder from a clear sky came the news of the resignation of the German Chancellor Caprivi and the Prussian Prime Minister Eulenburg. The papers had no intimation of what was coming till it was an accomplished fact. For once the reporters were outdone. Indeed, they had just reported a friendly interview between the emperor and Caprivi, in which the former expressed himself on the side of his minister in his policy for arranging internal difficulties. But no more sudden were the resignation and its acceptance than was the appointment of a new chancellor, Prince Hohenlohe, of Bavaria. This is but another item illustrative of the fact that Emperor William is a minute man. He evidently likes to demonstrate that he is independent, and to a certain extent his own minister.

It is a fact which attracts considerable notice that the new prime minister is a Catholic. But this does not have the significance that it would if he were an obedient son of the Vatican. When the dogma of papal infallibility was passed, he entered a vigorous protest, and worked diligently against it in the Bavarian Parliament, and tried to stir up all the Catholics of Europe to rise against it. As a rule, those Catholics that oppose the dogma of infallibility are the worst enemies that the Vatican has. It is said that the Central, or Catholic party in the Reichstag is none too well pleased over the choice of Hohenlohe as minister.

Prince Hohenlohe is from a family that dates from the twelfth century, and is a man of excellent political record. He has rendered great service to Germany, and has been engaged in the affairs of government since 1846. Although past seventy-five years of age, he is robust and in full possession of his mental and physical powers. He was one of the chief factors in establishing the German Empire, and for eight years after the Franco-Prussian war, filled with great efficiency the difficult position of German minister at Paris. There is quite a general satisfaction in his choice; it is expected that he will succeed rather better than Caprivi, as he is more politic.

It is claimed that Caprivi was truly glad to have his resignation accepted. For some time his position has been growing more difficult, the chief reason for which, it is claimed, is that he is too honest, and did not understand manipulating the various warring parties as well as Bismarck. In leaving his high office, he acted in thorough military style; in less than half an hour after his resignation was accepted, he had bade his special friends adieu, and the next morning part of his goods were already loaded in preparation to leave. Being a bachelor, such matters could be more hastily arranged than had he a family. For a period of rest, he will come to our beautiful Switzerland, to regale himself amidst the charms which nature has so lavishly bestowed about Lake Leman.

A rather bold step, one that was anticipated with some anxiety, has just been successfully taken in Italy,—the suppression of all socialistic societies. In 35 provinces 271 organizations were suppressed in one day. Also many of their documents and publications were confiscated. But these vigorous police measures do not improve the condition of the heart; the evil is only aggravated thereby, and will seek expression in another way.

Belgium has just passed through an exciting political campaign, the war being between the clericals and the socialists. Although the former won, the contest was so close in many places that the election resulted in a tie. The clericals, seeing danger ahead, are planning to meet it. To assure their party in future elections, they are actually working for woman's suffrage. They do this on the theory that woman, being more religious than man, will surely vote for the clergy. But the black-frocked gentlemen may burn their fingers, for it might occur to the oppressed laboring women to vote the socialistic ticket, to better their condition. Under many years of clerical rule their condition has constantly grown worse, hence there is little to encourage them that its continuance will be for their interests, and they may be the first to vote for a change.

A rather amusing case recently occurred in Denmark, illustrating the tyranny of the clergy of the State Church. In Copenhagen cremation is allowed, but the clergy bitterly oppose it as an unchristian act. A man who died some months since decreed that his body should be burned; the clergy, however, declared that they would not perform the funeral services if this decree were carried out; the relatives, bent on carrying out the wish of the deceased, finally found a pastor of a free church who was willing to perform the funeral ceremony. But suit was promptly brought against him for meddling with things of which the State Church had a monopoly. The Circuit Court fined the offender 100 kroner; but he appealed to the Supreme Court and was acquitted. Although the court justified him, the case goes on record as another illustration of the papal spirit of the State Church pastors.

The difficult position of army chaplains was recently illustrated by a case in the Swiss army. Complaint was entered at the Military Department by an Israelite that he was obliged to attend religious service where he heard things that hurt his religious feelings. Hereupon, the department sent out a circular, admonishing the chaplains not to use words that might be injurious to those of other confessions than themselves. In order to heed such instructions, how much liberty has a man to preach the word? And while this department of the government goes through the mock ceremony of preventing even the religious feelings being injured, another department is robbing men of their goods and imprisoning them for no other reason than that they keep the ten commandments according to God's word. This illustrates the perfection of religious liberty that human governments can bestow.

Religious liberty in Europe exists only in name; it stands in many of the constitutions, but there it ends. When one makes complaint, he is told that what he presents is not a question of conscience. That is, you are to have liberty of conscience as long as you believe what the majority believes; but when you believe otherwise, your belief is not to be considered as a matter of conscience. This is practically the decision of the Supreme Court of Switzerland in a recent appeal to the constitution in a question of conscience. But the child of God is not to look to man for his religious liberty. God gives him liberty; all man has to do is to assert his liberty and exercise it. "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Human governments cannot take this liberty away; they may lock a man up, but he is still free in the Lord, and has the only perfect liberty there is.

Basel, November 1.