They dared to do what none of the Progressives had ventured on--they disobeyed the law.

With them it was not likely that the conflict would be confined to Parliamentary debates.

The Government attempted to meet this resistance, but in vain.

The priests were deprived of their cures, bishops were thrown into prison, nearly half the Catholic parishes in Prussia were deprived of their spiritual shepherds, the churches were closed, there was no one to celebrate baptisms or weddings.

Against this resistance what could the Government do?
The people supported the leaders of the party, and a united body of one hundred members under Windhorst, ablest of Parliamentary leaders, was committed to absolute opposition to every Government measure so long as the conflict continued.