CATHOLIC SOCIALISTS. 
143 
cellor. These two sections, labouring side by side, enemies 
when they contend for their cohorts of working men, but allies 
when they lead them to the poll, are both rapidly gaining 
ground. With the democrats, no understanding can be 
thought of ; their hostility is absolute. But with the Catholics, 
an accord is not impossible, by means of concessions on both 
sides. As Bismarck has very justly remarked, in politics, the 
do ut des is always concealed at the bottom of every com 
promise; only the policy of Rome has never failed to exact 
much and to yield very little; while Prince Bismarck is not 
in the habit of treating on this footing. 
It is difficult to utter an impartial judgment on this extra 
ordinary movement that we have endeavoured to describe. 
It would, I believe, be unjust to assert that the commiseration 
for the lot of the labourers and the socialistic ideas expressed 
by the clergy are only a comedy enacted with the object of 
gaining power. A charitable priest must be sincerely touched 
with the evils which the working classes suffer in the crowded 
industrial centres. If he has read the Fathers of the Church, 
he will mark with indignation how little their precepts serve 
as a guide- amid the facts of modem life. With the ideal of 
Christian charity in his heart, what must he think of the 
economic world, ruled, as it is, by this hard law of competition 
which is no other than the animal struggle for existence? 
From the pulpit, the good pastor must say to us, “ Treat thy 
brother as thyself.” But the manufacturer replies to him “ If 
I do not reduce the cost of production and wages to the lowest 
point, I shall not be able to sell either in the home or the 
foreign market, and we shall all lose our livelihood.” 
No doubt Bishop Ketteler has been touched with the 
grace of Socialism through reading Lassalle, as Prince Bismarck 
was by listening to his words. But yet, when we see the vast 
masses of these innumerable associations guided and inspired 
with a view to the poll, and the clergy unhesitatingly allying 
themselves to these Democrats who have sworn, against 
Christianity, a Hannibal’s oath, we can no longer believe that 
this whole campaign, so skilfully planned, has no other in 
spiration than love for one’s neighbour and no other aim than