Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-04

| Paris correspondent of the London Daily
Telegraph writes, under date Of the 18th Of 0cto.
| Der, as follows, in relation TO the apathy that
seemed to prevail among the native inhabitants
OF that city concerning the disaster at Chicago:
"Ihe Americans residing in Paris have eX-
pressed, and not without some reason, consider
able surprise that up to the present time the
French nation has not subscribed single sou
TO alleviate the SutteringS of the people of Chi
| cagO. When France was in her great agony
| last February, the Americans were amongst the
very fist to come to her assistance; and, if am
| not mistaken, the town OF Chicago alone sub
scribed over $4,000 towards providing food for
| Paris when the siege was raised. To give out as
an explanation of this want of charity that there
| is no money in France, is Of no avail. Both the
loans that have been issued here during the last
| six months were covered again and again
| allude 10 the two mtliardS launched by the gov
| eminent, and TO the recent loan for the city of
| Paris. Moreover, we have only to walk a few
| hours about Paris to see that, though there
| Is not so much luxury and show as there used
| TO be before the war, there is still an immense
| deal of comfort and well-being amongst
| all classes Of society. No one would expect
| France, under present circumstances, to sub
| scribe so largely as England for the benefit of
the burnt-Out inhabitants of Chicago; but surely
| they might have done something to show their
| sympathy in this terrible misfortune that has
rendered nearly 100000 people houseless. Some
| persons will put down this apathy to Il penurious
| spirit on the part of the French but that | re-
| gard as FAR too sweeping a condemnation |
| don think Sydney Smith was right when he
| compared the French to the Good Samaritan
only without the pence and without the oil,
There are many charitable people in France; and
the good done in private, of which we hear
nothing, is very great. But there is Il great
want of what | may cali Seli-action amongst
them. No one seems to think that he is called
a tpEp tho load in
the project of the Seine or any other person hay
ng AUTHORITY over his fellows, were to call
meeting in Paris, people would think il quite
natural, and would most likely attend, although
| probably they would not subscribe very largely
| But If a leading banker or merchant convened Il
| public meeting, even for Il charitable purpose,
| nall OF Paris would say that he had some secret
| motive Tor acting thus; that he wanted to make
| a proht on the exchange, or on the food orcloth-
| lnE sent out. If the archbishop or any of the
iGadin@ clergy convened Il meeting, all the free
| thinkers oil the town would cry out against the
| AFFAIR. ii deputy Of the chamber did so, all
| who were not Of the same way of thinking in
| politics would abuse the whole concern.
There seems, in one word to be no common
| platform on which the French can meet or act.
| However estmablc many of them ale indiyid-
ually, as a nation they have lost Il great chance
| of showing themselves ready and willing to helm
| their felowmen in trouble. Would Paris have
ever felt tiff she had subscribed say half a mil
non lGallcS k-ZU,VuUl towards the Chicago fund
| The sum would have been less than half a franc
| per head in this great city. Could not the
amount have been saved in what will be scent
in beer, absjnihc, and theatre tickets next sun
day? Where there is Will there is a wav AT
least wherever men are sell-reliant and uiyen Ia
sef-gOvcrnmcnt, which fear is not the case in
France. The people have many good qualities
but in these latter days they are wanting in
much OF what constitutes great people |
viii, however, do them the justice to say that
many OF them fully recognize the fact here stated
mus not long ago happened TO meet at din
| ner an American Roman Catholic gentleman
| ana French deputy. IN the course of CONVEX
| saton the former stated it rs his opinion that
| the clergy IN France would have much more
| lhuuence amongst the people, and Christianity
| would have much greater chance of becoming
| power in the land, if the church were sonar
| ated ifom the state. The Frenchmau's repIv
struck me a. being curious. and vet as showing
| considerable knowledge Of his conntrvmcn. 30
| separate church aud state in France he said
would be simply TO condemn the CLERGY to
starvation. If the government did not
| pay them, neither Catholic priest. Protest.
ant pGSteT nor Jewish rabbi would have
bread TO eat. Our people are not like the Amer
leans or the English. They don't understand
voluntary contributions, and, fear never will
They viii pay what they are Obliged, and nav il
TO the last son, but beyond that they will do
nothing, and a whole generation will need TO
pass away before the education Of Frenchmen
IN this respect could be completed"