New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-13
FRANCE.
Religion-Politics-C arricatures-
Americans-Sherry CObblers.

PARIS, THURSDAY, NAV 90 IoJi'
The actual state Of the public mind IN
France upon religion and upon morals, OF which re-
l;0on must be the basis IS, apprehend but little IN
ders,oOd Astoa large mass Of the people ana per
haps numerical majority they are believing ana
sincere Catholics but these are the rural uniettered
and ignorant portions Of the population. In some
remote districts the faith in relics, SAINTS and prol
gies is as deep as a century ago. And all over the
country even the midst Of the Deisn and Atheism
OF Paris and Lyons, there are thousands who count
their beads 90 TO confession and pray TO the saints
Nevertheless the great body of educated, intelh-
gent ard enlightened men are disbelierrs OF these
there are many shades but the general point at
which they rest is practically this: We kno"
nothing of future state It's reality has never
been demonstrated we have no facts which prove
il II NAV be true or il may not. Probabilities are
against it logic against it. All we are sure OF Is
the present All our duties are limited to what we
know" Here is the platform OF the lnhdels-and 1t
indicates peculiarly IN the French mlnd-a capaci-
ty to live contentcd III a state Of doubt. They can
laugh, dance and sing beneath mpenetrable cloud
hiding from them the future and even making the
present terrible mystery.
There are il is true, many educated and ntell-
gent Frenchmen, who belong to the Catholic Church.
these than half the time lnfiels In YOUTH
health prospeuty-the bright days of ilie-they eat,
drink and are merry INDUCING every desire IN dark
hours they send for the priest confess ana get ab-
solution. And IN point OF fact, the greater part even
of the avowed nfdos lInger IN the precincts of the
Church. The Church bdptzcs the children the
Church educates them the Church marrieS them
Church, at the last hour gives them extreme JUNCTION
and passport to heaven. Many man, whose whole
life has been spent IN railing at the Church and us
minister's still desires It's Offices when about to leave
fha m hnK X
Catholic religion is so construed and understood
that IT offers the greatest nay the only chance OF
salvation IN another world. Now, says the unbe-
lever and the half believer, pleasure IS gone
money is gone--life Is gone-l must die Possibly
after ALL there is another sphere OF existence. Pos
sibly there is a Heaven, perhaps Hell may as
well get insurance for heaven, especially as 1 am
only required to confess, and perhaps give part Of
what cannot keep"
II should be understood that ! speak Of the men
the women of France have faith more or less IN re-
hglOn, even though they do not obey It's dictates.
But # they sin, penance Is made easy To the flesh
and the fair. The Church IS reasonable, afler all
The tax Of the priests, IN the majority OF families,
who employ ono for licensing the conscience. is not
beyond that Of the washerwoman. Ten francs
day will do up all the linens and musllnS OF hrs-
rate cCgante and the same sum VIII wash away
the accumulated pcccadillOeS OF the % hOurs-uneSs
her is very bad, her wealth great and the priest
extortionate, etc.
Now, what is the state Of morals 10 be expected in
such condition of society. Certainly, 1t Is not
worse IN France than Ne should anticipate. The
social and genial nature Of the French people covers
multitude of sins Nowhere arc the amenities OF
life SO generally practcod S here. Nowhere are the
kindly sentiments OF kindred more cherished, no
where is the general tone OF humanity higher than
IN France. In all these respects The French have
the advantage of the English. Bu, the great virtue
of truth, in speech and action, Is wanting. Faith rs
wanting. The basis of greatness true greatness 10
wanting. Unhappy, there Is li,'ie or no PATRIOTISM,
and no sound craftsmanship. Everything IN public
affairs is selfish, yonal, little France needs new
souA-a national Spirit-a new hte-a regeneration.
ana tins can only be given by religion.
Such is the reasoning OF many, and there IS on
this and Other grounds, among rejecting men, a very
general desire that something may be done 90 renew
and elevate the faith OF France SEEING upon thS
feeling and AT the same time bCckoning u The Gath
olicS the Logitmists are suggesting that Henry y.
restored Will bring back a state Religion TO France.
This has called forth one of the gcnchani articles of
PelloQuet, in the National, of which | give you
brief extract
at Was the religion of the state that extorminated
the AlbgonScS IN the 18Th century II was by order
of two egateS Of the Pope that 10000 hereucS were
maSSacrcd at Bczieres IN "A single day. 1t was this
religion of the state that dictated the hOmicidal de-
cree against the NandoS IN the time OF Francis l. II
was the religion OF the State which butchered the
PT0teS,antS under Charles IN. and which made The
professions in honor OF the event 10 walk anclc deep
in blood II was this which led LOUIS XIV. TO send
thousands of peaceahlo subjects 10 the galleyS 10
set the CeryenneS ON Ere, and TO establish the IN
famous nQulSltlon. There Is not league OF our
territory where you may not dig mp the bones of the
martyrs, sacrificed by tins religion Of the State,
whose restoration Is offered 10 us Is boon 70 come
back With BOurbOnlSm, ~
Now the truth of this is no less evident than It's
fOrce and ieVur There Is no reasonable doubt that
the religion of the State chiefly responsible for the
very low condition of French morals. Ii was the
State religion that eNtnguiShed true religion. Yet
the argument Of the leglmlSS Is, give Us back tins
institution let us have State rehglOn-lei Us COM
pei men by law, and We viii restore moralS-we VIII
reeStabllSh faith.
TINS, as a political argument, addressed to the
Catholics may, pcrchancc, DC Wise that Is 10 say.
may, and no doubt Will, De useful IN Inducing the
Church and the clergy 10 AID The LegltimlSt cause
But what must DC thought OF It ln.AmeTlca How
different irom tins reasoning OF French conservatism
Is ours how contradictory 10 this Is our experience
Religion that enters into the heart has thryen under
perfect liberty Of conscience IN the United States
IL II by making men independent 81 all gO-oetWcenS-
OF all brokers and intermediary dealers in conscience
by making man feel that ms heart Is the seat OF
action, and that Tor tins he Is re>pon>ble-that re-
hgiOn and morality have been made 70 20 hand IN
hand Ii is by this that able present state
Of society never before realized. Thus, We believe
freedom OF mind, freedom OF thought and belief is
the only true Way OF bringing back religion and NOR
atty TO France GIVE France a monarchy and she
must have State religion 20 sustain Il and State
religion WILL only serve 10 deepen her mental and So
cal teeauchery But give her eva liberty. and true
rehglon VII hnU safe and permanent foundations Tor
her temples. How PLAN Is II 70 every rejecting and
enlightened American that the cause OF civil iOeriy
anu NE cause 81 true religion IN Europe are hercaf-
Ter identical How greatly TO men err who suppose
that the restoration OF monarchy IN France to-day
can promise anything more than the restoration OF
thVSe wees AMI crimes, clyl ana religious which
have been the cause Of most OF The miSerieS OF
CkriSicndom ior the last FIVE hundred years
On the 9th of Aprll, the Caartrgri or p,-,s p--b
published caricature Tor which the DAYS issue vas
seized. and the editor ana designer summoned 10 an
pear before the Court OF ASSizes The eperavins
represented the President distributing arrows 10 dlf
ferent persons who shot them al female heal la.
beled Ia Constitution. which had already been sew
eral tunes pierced Louis Napoleon promises 10
elevate the archer who shall bring the head % the
ground, 10 the responsible position Of Prime Minis
ter The design Is entitled " TTlal Of skill al the
Champs ElySeeS" The Minister OF Justice dlScOy-
cred IN tins ofenSe against the President Of the
Republic and the case was tried yesterday make
few extracts from the Attorney Generals speech,
as II sheds new gh, en- The rather obscure subject Of
the liberty OF the press
" Gentlemen OF the Jury the question before US
has reference 20 an ofCn>C TOYS AMI the PreS.dent BY
means ~ IA hfhnrrgnh nr rtvfrafflrn We wish Ia