New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-24
TOO MUCH ZEAL.

| II is possible that the UltramOntane party
in France may go a little too far In their
attempt to bring religious questions into poll
| tics. There is no doubt that the present
| religious revival in France is genuine mani
festation of popular feeling, and that the
lamentable attitude of the majority of the
Assembly is greatly encouraged by the pill
grimages and penances which fill so large a
space in the public attention at this moment.
But there is another trait far more deeply
implanted in the minds and the hearts Of
Catholic Frenchmen than even their religion,
and that is their national feeling, whether it
be called patriotism, local vanity, chauvinism,
or what you will. This feeling, while it is
strong in the Church, is almost the only
religion of the Indifferent or non-Christian
masses. The one point upon which all French
men are absolutely harmonious is that of their
| foreign policy. To do nothing which shall
impair the prospect of regaining their lost
provinces and their lost prestige is the sole
object for which all profess to strive in their
different and sometimes discordapt ways
Anything which shall seem to the majority to
stand in the way of this will not only be con-
demned sharply in itself, but will discredit
the party which advocates it.
| Some of the leading ecclesiastical authorities
have been led by their fervent zeal into acts
which will have precisely this effect. The
Archbishop of Paris, some weeks ago, desig-
mated the 18th of this month for general prayer
for the cessation Of the sOrrows of the
Church" and in the circular letter in which he
makes this order known to his flock he dis
tinctly intimates that the prayers of the faith
full are to be especially directed against Victor
Emanuel and the occupation of Rome. He
calls the King brutal oppressor and summons
Europe to dislodge him from his usurped CAPT.
tai. There is frankness and indiscreton
about this style of address which is intolera-
BILE to those prudent monarchists who would
like well enough to use the Church for their
own purposes, but have no disposition to allow
it to stand in their way. Their organs COM
ment with delicate severity upon the
language of Monseigneur Gubert "a
calculated to compromise the friendly
relations of France and Italy. What
especially aggravates the awkwardness of
the incident is the fact that Victor Eman-
uel is at present visiting the German
Courts and is received with the most winning
courtesy and kindness. It is generally under
stood that the object of his interviews with the
Emperors of Austria and Germany have a di-
rect bearing upon the questions involved in
the possible accession of an Ultramontane King
to the throne of France, and Pope of like
views to the chair of Plus TX. At such time
to have the Ecclesiastics of France thunderinp
anathemas at the King of Italy, is a Just cause
for extreme nervousness on the part of those
political monarchists who care far more for
the success of their faction than they do for
the interests of the Church.
What France most breads at this time. in
view of future complications, is isolation. No
one dreams she can ever regain her lost posi
ton single-handed. Even in France no one il
so giddy as to claim this. Yet the thing which
will most surely shut her out from the sym-
patty of all the great Powers, is the esponsal
of the cause of the Papacy in its quarrels with
European Governments. There is no nation
in Europe disposed to make common cause
with the collapsed temporal power of the Pope.
If France, for her sins, should be visited with
such an evil az the restoration of the Bour
bons, the very fact of their relations with
Rome would be sufficient to embarrass their
relations with every Cabinet on the Continent.