The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-06

what had been already frequently stated by other
Commissioners of the Convention, who had been In
Brittany.
The weakness Of republicanim in France has con-
sisted in its willingness, whenever it had the
power to prosecute religious convictions and the
main strength of Bourbonism 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.
bered in this part, of the empire, and
that seem to be forgotten or unknown else
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
1898; 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 ninetyour
clergymen on the 18th of November and again OF
seventy.four clergymen on the 10th Of December,
1898. In four months Of the year l794 there were
twelve clergYmen slain in RenDes alone, whilst in
other places, such as Nantes, Saint Briene, Saint
committed. On the 9Th of January, 1875, there
were 760 cergymen confined on board the vessels at
Rochfort. In 1896 and 1897 the whole Of Brittany
was overrun by movable columns" Of the republi-
cans and by them cergymen were shot whenever
they could be discovered. On 18th of March, 1898
there l55 clergymen transported from Rochfort
to Guiana. ] have before me list of clergymen
murdered in 1898 whilst dscharging their religious
M. Georgelin, whilst attending dying person."
and M. Duval, whilst going 10 a baptism. There
were at one time in 1913 in the Isle de Re no less
than 200 clergymen confined in the citadel, and on
the LIST OF August l0 Of these were transported to
Guyana. The names of the 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 Engsh
government-that is, AN allowance barely sufficient
to each Of the recipients from dying OF starya
ton.
BY whom was this persecution put an end to? by
Napoleon Bonapafte-uot by the Bourbons. The
first had power, and was faisingup throne for him
self. The latter were in eXile--wanderers from
France-dependents upon other IHonarchs.
As republcansm was unpopular because OF its IN
tolerance, so Napoleon l. won great popularity ny
the manner in which he commenced his reign. His
concordat with Plus VII. was deemed to be niea-
sure equally wise, timely and temperate.
At the downfall OF Napoleon, this, like other parts
of France, exhausted by hs constant wars; and,
peared with the route at Waterloo. the Bourbons
welcomed back to their throne by the Drctons,
who conceived that so long as they regned there
bulwark to be found against the aggressions of
intolerant republicahism.
Charles X, the legitimate king, was Overthrown
by his cousin of Orleans and the triumph of louis
Philippe was won by the swords, pixies and guns OF
| the red republicans in Paris. Amongst the early
acts Of the new King was one OF unprovoked reii-
gious persecution in this part of Francethe expul-
| sion from their own home and newly repnrchased
| residence of the Trappists Of Melleray. That act
Brittany; and so long as the conflict for power lay
| between legtimsts and Ore anists, 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 moment: and then had to fly be-
fore the egions who, for the sake OF the Cesar they
had loved, supported the pretenslons OF the modern
| Augustus.
What is the feeling of the Bretons as to these
several claimants to powery
There are as have already stated, in this part of
France legitimists Orleanists, republicans, Bona
| partsts. The lhexepts Of these various names or
principles are amongst the educated and intelligent
classes. The legitmists wish for the restoration OF
Henry ", (the Due de Bourdeaux,) because they
saw that the country can ia other way be secured
| against the apprehension of repeated revolutions
The maintainers of this opinion are without
| single exception, excellent, respectable, virtuous
persons of unimpeachabe honor and exemplary in-
| tegrity: but years and circumstances are wearing
them out and telling against them. Years are car.
| ryng away the most devoted aud distinguished OF
the legtimists, aud circumstances are beginning TO
show that, so far as legitimacy in France Is con
scerned, it is principle on life annuity, for the
legitmist Prince Henry V Is childless and his heirs
are the Oreanists-they, who are party, and
|
as bad and wicked principle the very principle Of
What Is a pure legitimst to do when Henry " is
no more? II he is 10 transfer his allegiance to Or
| eapism, when 0reansm (personided by its founder,
Louis Phlppe,) would have punished him as traitor
had he openly manifested his allegiance to his legit
| mate prince
Here is the weakness Of Legitimacy and orleanism
| in France. The cannot survive Henry " because
the other cannot accept succession IL has already
| repudiated. 0rleaDisn has worn the crown because
il acknowledged popular election as the only rghtful
source Of power IL cannot now FOR Its advantage
turn back on what IL had previously for its advan-
tagc rcpudated. And then, on the other side, that
which IL acknowledged a. 1.-The soarce OF power has
decided against IT, and chosen ~ the ruler OF France,
not an Orleans, but a Bonaparte 10 politics, how
ever. IL must be recoiiected that men do not guide
their actions by the strict rules OF logic. In such
their passions and their private interests are
| he strongest motives for their con1act. And so
| Oreansm n q highly respectable Party-tnst u, u
has gained the names OF the most eminent men "a its
supporters because Il has identified itself with what
Is called "a constitutional system Of government"
Strong in other parts OF France 10 IL the most con-
temptble Of all parties in this portion Of the empire;
| for here those who had been, when II regned. the
most remarkable of its supporters, have given their
| unqualified adhesion TO the Imperial regime.
| Oreanism which was overthrow because Il en-
| deayored ~ prevent ". Odillon Barrott aud other
| "reformers' from making speeches at public din
| ner; 0rleanisn, which enacted 1.-The september
| laws against journalism and Orleanism, which con-
| triyed to have a Parliamentary system based upon
jobbing with more places to give away than there
| were electors 10 make representatives; that same
| Orleanism Is now, II appears. sustained on the
ground that Orleanism is TO be identified with free
| dom Of speech" liberty Of the press and ,onsti.
tutional government" Such are Its claims for ad-
herents These pretensons to popularity not re-
cognzed here and therefore, Of all parties the least
the smallest and the weakest in Brittany Is Orlesn-
| ism.
As 20 republicanism-al although there arc republi-
cans OF various huesrepublicans Of the pure, old,
firm, unrelentng, genteel Junius Brutus school like
the late General Cavaignac-the slanglterer OF the
| Paris reds-republicans who are also communists,
/ like Louis Blanc and Ledru Rollin-republicans who
are also socialists like NJ. Barbcs and NJ Proudhon
still in Brittany the name OF republicanism exctes
| hut one idea and gives rise but to one feeling the
one idea Is intolerance" the one feengis hatred
| A remarkable proof Of the latter afforded ia this
| very town and neighborhood in 1sis, when IN.