The New York herald., 1873-09-25

IDENTITY drawn up by cerkly persons who are ac-
customed to think in Italian or Latin, and whose
writings have none OF the epierammatic terseness
OF the French idiom or OF the strong plain sense
which usually lies on the surface of good English
But whosoever penetrstes beneath the clothing Of
the Pope's thoughts to the thoughts themselves
will md grave dignity and sublime faith in
them.
Moreover, when comic paper has made its
comic readers laugh at the Pope's BRIEF what
thenY Sober thlnkers-the statesman who is
worthy OF the name OF statesman, the historian Of
the present age, all persons who are seriously dis
posed TO consider the existing circumstances and
imme 1iate prospects OF the French people-will
find no food for laughter in what is passing now.
Talk ON THE PILGRIMAGEs.
breakfas:ed this morning with q party OF
French geHtlemen-all pllgrims-wh0 had retired
from the hot strife OF party politics. and who looked
upon the case oil their country with eyes purined
by time and suffering. One had been peer OF
France in the now distant reign of Louis Philippe
one had been . Bonapartist genera, who fought
under MacMah0n at Magenta; one had been re-
turned to the National Assembly which held it's
sttings at Bordeaux and q fourth was a country
gentleman who had been solicited TO hold office
under NJ Theirs, but had refused to do so. There
were five or six other persons present-some insig-
nincant enough; some who had made their names
resound IN the world of art and letters 1t was .
mixed company, and l turned the conversation
upon the question OF the pilgrimages.
''What are the interest, the social and political
meaning, the ultimate object and aim OF these pill
grimages 2" asked OF the ex-Peer Of Flance-a
man not unacquainted with the diplomacies, and
who in person had strange likeness to M. de ST.
A,,lo otra <ln md ~
some repute a generation ago.
"Sac1ez le bien' understand this clearly, said
he:-''The destinies Of France are indissolubly
united with those Of Rome and the Papacy and, as
political majority OF the French people committed
the incredible folly and crime OF betraying and
abandoning the interests Of Rome, it is only by
devotion and prayer that 1t Will obtain pardon
from God, and that it may still possibly save the
Holy See from iurther humiliation. There need be
NO MISTAKE ABOUT THE AIMS AND HOPES OF THE
PILGRIMS.
They have nothing to do with the current pslitics
OF Versailles. They vigorously abstain from inter-
meddllng with them. Their watchw0rds may be
told without arousing the attention of the secret
police and NJ Rouher is as little menaced by them
as NJ. Gambetta. The Church, our spiritual mother,
is prosecuted in the person of her chief, whom we
venerate as the supreme pastor, the common
truth We pray to God for the end Of this persecu-
tion ana for the triumph OF the Church over her
enemies. In SO doing we only preserve the grand
est traditions OF Catholic France. France, which
Is our temporal mother, has suffered disasters
and miseres without example In our history"
Il don't think we can quite say that, my Lord; but
you think 80, and most OF your cOuntrymen hold
the same Opinion, ''and she Is affiicted with in
ternal diseases which threaten to exhaust her
vitality We pray to God Tor ner health Herein is
the secret OF this magnificent movement OF pill
grims. 1t is French, 1t is Catholic. We obey the
two noblest sentiments which can dominate
human life,
THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE LOVE OF COUNTRY,
FAITH AND PATRIOTISM"
have long declined to feel surprise at anything;
but as this peer Of the July monarchy ceased
speaking took inward note OF the remarkable
changes which have lately occurred in French
thought. II he and those with whom he acted had
felt and reasoned thus In 1880 or in 1860 there
would have been no July monarchy and no Franco
German war. This nobleman's speech was in fact
general cancelling and stultidcation Of his whole
political career Men DO not speak thus unless
they are in earnest
'srhe idea Of the pilgrimages," observed the BO-
napartist General, making the sign Of the cross
while apparently lifting his hand to his mustache
"was born of our defeats. We feel griev0usly
humbled; and that military glory which was most
dear to us, as nation, is departed from us. Our
overthrow followed close upon the afctions Of the
Church; and these pilgrimages, these prayers to
the God of battles and OF mercy, are permitted to
teach US that we need not yet despair. After the
worst disasters which our country has ever suffered
one single thought has suddenly come out OF the
hearts of our people. Catholic France led to peni-
tence by misfortune. has turned spontaneously to
her whom Christians invoke under the name OF
THE MOTHER OF MERCY
and the Refuge OF sinners"
'Thave carefully followed the movement of the
pilgrimages since their first commencement" said
the country gentleman ''and have done what
could to further IL. do not pretend to say that l
have done much, but have been astounded by the
rapidity and extent OF its development. First,
there were only local and individual manifesto
tons Of the new spirit which had begun to animate
the French people. few persons only felt want
to pray for guilty and humiliated France They
repaired separately or in little groups to the priv
ileged affairs Of
THE MOTHER OF GOD.
Gradually this devotional feeling spread to whole
populations and took q completely national char
acter. Never since the time OF the Crusades and
of Joan of Arc has manifestation OF faith been
seen so universal and so bold. Religion has once
more taken possession OF the highways OF pleasure
and commerce and put them to its own use that
Piety may hasten more swiftly to prayer and sac
rIfce."
'sTHE BISHOP OF Anglers"
remarked the exPeer, 'on being asked what was
the use of pigrimages, since people could pray
with equal fervor at home, replied that among
all the practices Of Christian devotion there
is none SO salutary as that Of pilgrimages.
God,' declared this prelate, has appointed GER
tain stations or resting places for aith where His
grace operates with more efficacy. In like manner
as He has opened here and there in the earth
sources Of life which spring to cure o9r bodies q
sickness, so He has ,aade heal..g places for our
souls The shrines to which pilgrims resort are
THE HOT SPRINGS OF PIETY-sPIRrTUAL BATHS,
where hearts can come TO be regenerated, and
whence langud faith may draw fresh energy
We are in sore need Of cure. The disease from
which France has suffered is far worse than mate
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