The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-10-21
The Silent Vote In France.

The London IdbRt prluts ZIG VI
of a letter, as 1t is called, or kind OF mani
festo, from the pen of Bishop DupaniouP,
published In the Paris Defense. 1t ia
strong production, energetic, animated and'
to acme extent, logical. In our opinion IL
ia also illogical to certain other extent.
The Bishop is evidently patriot, a man
of action and o man of nerve. His treat |
ment of the flimsy excuses Of citizens VINO |
refuse to vote is truly scorching. he con-
victs them of cowardice and Gin OF treason
to their country and to God. You let your
ad versaries, he says, do all the voting you
| let them take possession of the government;
you put them in a position to insult God
and persecute religion, and then you rely
| on the axiom that truth is eternal and can
| not be put down by miscreants. Iraths'
| ITO quote his own words-"do not defend
themselves if left alone. If they stand
| their ground, if they survive, If they tri-
umph, it ia by the courage OF those VINO
love and defend Them" And again "A'ae
tot. lie Ciel taidera"-help yourself and
God will help you.
But, they reply, we do not vote for these
bad men we merely abstain from voting;
they do not get in by our action. You
deceive yourselves, replies the Bishop;
abstention is action every vote you fail to
cast, counts one the more for your opponent.
Truth will prevail in the eud, but in the
meantime YOU have the Girondists and
Danton and Robespierre you have the
guillotine and the torch you have invasion
and ruin. Ia all this the punishment of no
| sin7 Yes; it is the vengeance of Heaven
upon your sin of cowardiy abstention from
the polls, your fragrant treachery to your
country.
But in the Bishops manifesto We ind
reference to two very significant facts. The
first ia that in the elections of l849 and 1949
citizens voted there was no abstention OF
moment: the second, that at the election
for the Chamber recently dissolved there
were three millions of votes uncast. The
former of these facts suggests the reflection
that abstention or timidity is not inherent
in the Conservative vote; the latter Leads
q us to suppose that something deeper thar
k Indifference or timidity may influence the
n Conservative Masses.
Aswe understand the situation in France
the Conservatives at this recent election
were reduced to the alternative of thre
T kinds of candidates. They we're obliged t
n vote either for Legitmist, for an Orlesn
A. list or for an Imperialist. Then, where wa
10 room made for u Conservative who Nigh
chance to be a Republican, 1t would b
said to him: That makes 10 difference, 70
- the Republic ia guaranteed by the Consti
a. tuition, and all these candidates are pledge
at to support it. But there ia falsehood hid
er den under the truth of these words. In
en- Republic is guaranteed until the year lse
mi only. It is merely a provisional Republic
cd it ia on probation, and the meaning
OF Imperiaist party, Legitimist party ar
Is Oreanist party is that each of those pol
cies hopes 40 to commend itself to the po
,rk ular good will that when the election for
to final choice of government shall be held
loh will obtain the popular majority.
is What, then, can conscientious Repu
cs' lican do Must he vote nolens colens for o
ian of these policies when he detests them a.!
Must he strengthen the hands of the Nap
w. leonists under penalty Of not being go
aao Conservative citizen if he does not, VIII
nth in reality he is aIdentty DESTROYS OF esta
fishing Conservative Republics T
alternative certainly presents case of gre
IN hardship, and it is wrong on the part OF
'' Government aud of Bishop DopanloaP
-, force honest people into such predi
of ment.
'sss Suppose the three millions of voters to
ats Catholic Republicans. They want dec
Republic and are averse to any form
un- monarchy. Though by far the most p'
10 erful section of the national vote, t
!" have not q single candidate. They can
possibly vote for the miserable abortlo
Republic intended by such fire brand
,isb Gambetta-a Goddess government, an
le Of gauized crime, a hybrid spawn of Free
the sonry and Communism, that openly
cru nounoes it's war on religion. Aud ye.
Mar are not willing to vote for strengthe
n, is the pretensions of any form OF monsl
Earl because they are Democrats.