The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-05


Commissioners of the Convention, who had been in
Brittany.
The weakness Of republicanim in France has con-
power, to prosecute religious Convictions; and the
main strength of Bourbonsm chat is. the principle
of legitimacy was its being identified, for some
years. with the belief that persecution for con-
science sake would cease with its restoration to
power.
There are certain circumstances connected
with this subject religious persecution by the
French republicans-which are well remem.
here hered in, in this part Of the empire and and
where: From 1890 to 1900 religious persecu-
ton did not cease. shall say nothing here of the
massacres of the clergy in Paris and elsewhere in
1893; and only allude to the nOyades of Nantes by
Carrier to call attention TO these well established
facts viz: the drowning in one night Of ninetyfour
clergymen on the 18th of November, and again of
seyentyfour clergymen on the 10th Of December,
1898. In four months Of the year 1874 there were
twelve clergymen slain in RenDes alone, whilst in
other places, such as Nantes, Saint Briene, Saint
Malo and Guingcamp, the most awful excuses were
committed: On the 9th of January, 1906, there
were 760 clergymen confined on board the vessels at
Rochfort. In 1896 and 1877 the whole of Brittany
was overrun by movable columns of the republ
cans, and by them clergymen were shot whenever
they could be discovered. On 18th of March, 1888
there were 1855 cergymen transported from Rochfort
to Guiana. l have before me a list OF clergymen
murdered in 1898 whilst discharging their religious
duties or about to discharge them, as for instance
M. Georgelin, whilst attending dying person"
and NJ Duval, whilst going to baptism" There
were at time in 1898 in the Isle dc Re no less
than 200 clergymen confined in the citadel, and on
the LIST Of August l0l Of these were transported to
Guyana The names Of tie different clergymen sent
as prisoners to the Isle de Re in 1898 and 1893 fill
six closely printed pages of an octave volume. But
the patent proof of this persecution and the manner
in which it was carried out is the undoubted and
extraordinary fact that in the early part of the year
1900 there were no less than 1921 refugee French
clergymen receiving small pensions from the English
government-that is, an allowance barely sufficient
to save each of the recipients from dying of starva-
ton.
By whom was this persecution put an end to? By
Napoleon Bonaparte-not by the Bourbons. The
first had power, and raising up throne for him.
SELF The latter were in exile wanderers from
France-dependents upon other mOnarchs
As republicanism was unpopular because OF its in
tolerance, 80 Napoleon !. won great popularity by
the manner in which he commenced his reign. His
concordat with Plus VII was deemed to be a mea
sure equally wise, timely and temperate.
At the downfall Of Napoleon, this, like other parts
of France was exhausted by his constant wars; and
peared with the route at Waterloo, the Bourbons
were welcomed back to their throne by the Bretons,
who conceived that so long as they reigned there
bulwark to be found against the aggressions OF
intoleIant republicanism.
Charles X, the legitimate king, was overtbrown
by his cousin of Orleans, and the triumph of Louis
Philippe was won by the swords, pixies aud guns of
the red republicans in Paris. Amongst the early
acts of the new King was one Of unprovoked reli-
gous persecution in this part of France-the expul
sion from their own home and newly repurchased
residence Of the Trappists of Melleray. That act
did much to increase the popularity OF Legitimacy in
Brittany; and SO long as the conflict for power lay
between legitimsts and Orleanists, the great body
of the people here were ready and willing to range
themselves under the standards Of the former
That state of things is now altogether changed.
The republicans who made Louis Philippe king, by
their own hands discrowned him. They occupied
his position for a moment. and then had to fly be-
fore the egions who for the sake of the Caesar they
had loved, supported the pretensons of the modern
Augustus. ..-. -.-. .... $500.
What is the feeling of the Bretons as to these
several claimants to power!
There are as have already stated, in this part of
France, legtimsts, Orleanists, republicans, Bona
partists. The adherents of these various names or
principles are amongst the educated and intelligent
classes. The egitmists wish for the restoration of
Henry ", (the Due de Bourdeaux) because they
say that the country can in no other way be secured
against the apprehension of repeated revolutions.
The mantainers of this opinion are, without
single exception, excellent, respectable, virtuous
persons, of unimpeachable honor and exemplary in
tegTity; but years and circumstances wearing
them out, and telling against them. Years are car
ryng away the most devoted and distinguished OF
the legtimsts, and circumstances are beginning to
show that, so far as legitimacy in France is con-
legtimst Prince Henry V. is chdess, and his heirs
are the Orleanists-they, who are party, and
have held the crown because they trampled upon
as bad and wicked principle the very principle of
legitimacy.
What is pure legitimist to do when Henry v. IL
M moreY Is he Is 10 transfer his allegiance 10 Or
ieanism when Orleanism (personised by its founder
Louis Pbilippe would have punished hin as traitor
had no onenlv manifested his aleriance TO his lepi
mate nrpce;'
Ue,pe ia tha uaatnass os legitimacy and Orlean;sm
IN France The one canno. snryive Henry v because
the Other cannot accent Succession II has already
renudiated Orleanism has worn the crown because
4, acInowisd rod nnnn,r oIoc,,o "a tbe onv rgb,r.,I
sonrre of nowrr N carro. now for ia ADVANTAGE.
turn bach on what n had rrevonslv Far lie advan
tagr rcnmlatcd Ana then on tho other side. tlrt
,rb;nh 4, act,ow,od,aS % s.tha sosrcc of mower hes
Ssia !. sJ ho.sn 90 ,he rnler Of France
uot an Esioans LII Ronanare. In potics' how
, W 1910 re- raoo,,aotad that mon 10 not guide
49, a.,,o.s ,hn s,r,ct rulas M logic. In such
s,, ,a oy VIC S thor nr;,o,e Interests AFRO
oes .ner passloss a'v Co. VII" ,ho c"ndnc, And "a
ne suoHses, ino,yes ioi IN n,t that ~ -