, 1877-11-11


where, the forces OF the Clerical and Legltimist
reaction may be seen at their strongest. Every
thing seems done TINT Dukes anu Ministers can
uo to euthronc the ancleu regime in its most
splendid form. The Prefect IS the Baron de
Behr, to whom the Throne and the Altar arc
simply part of the Military Code. The militia
ry Governor bears the great name OF Gen. de
Saligun4=F Fcnelon, and learn that he in no way
has turned back from the devoted loyalty and
the scrupu1ous piety Of his histrionic ancestors.
the Vtcomtc d'Adhemar, who is no less loyal
and no less devout than his patrons. There is
q great deal OF renewed Catholic energy
in the place. The Archhlshop-not he who
wanted to celebrate the st. Bartholomew, but 4
more intelligent successor-is said to have i'm
mense influence with the entire oiiicia, world;
and the Jesuits are said to have great influence
with the Archbishop. Now what is the result
Of this array OF Legitimist authority? It would
be mistake to count the whole OF the votes for
the Vicomte d'Adhemar as Lcgitimist or even
as Clerical. They represent the entire pressure
on the whole official machine, and probably not
one in ten Is the result OF political principle.
Well, on the day Of the poll the official Lcgiti-
mist has $500 votes out Of more than II ,ooo.
am far from saying that Catholicism is not
powerful and living force. But am ciearthat
Clcricalism is thing rejected by the whole
French people. But If Clcricalism is repudiatc1,
Le2itimism is simply not repudlatcd, because it
is regarded us dead, as much as II it was stuffed
and in q glass case.
Legiti,nisn is dead; C1ericalism Is odious; I'm
perialism remains. It is Il force of a certain
kind. There are country districts where 1t
would be accepted as settlement, IT it could
get finally established. But nowhere, so iar as
can Judge, will any body OF country peopIe
make the least effort on its behalf. Even in
this, Que Of tue great strongholds of tile Bona
partfsts, where we eau almost hear the storm
which the Cassagnacs are raising i'll the ad-
joining Department Of Gers, even here the
4Set.n i'm min ~ Nnfjfh mi n
clining minority. The 1mperiast candidate OF
tho CITY, who last time had 4,000 votes, has now
but 1000. His newspaper, with its dpl%t q.
Eeupie, at five ccntlncs, cannot sell Thousand
copies. The nephew OF Marshal Mil, i'll the
birthplace OF the Marshal, with the whole force
Of the Administration brought to bear In his
favor, has only defeated Ills Republican oppo-
uent by majority of less than one-twcllth.
when VIC take the Department as whole we
find the Bonnpartfst votes tprcssure, violence:
the Republic are 5000. Bouapartisul is not,
after oil, political iorcc. But there is quite
enough OF it left to be made into formidable
political conspiracy.
Catholicism pure and simple IS somewhat
different thing. cannot smut ny eyes to the
fact that in such district Us this there Is much
genuine religious feeling and attachment to the
Church as a religious institution. The Church
is In no way in danger, unless it Is determined
to commit suicide. II it will keep within its
spiritual functions, it will probably be left to
its own strength to rise or to fall. But Il It
converts religion itself into wretcheti political
intrigue, no one OIL earth can say what tate may
not be in store for it, l attended OIL Sunday tlie
I mass in the magnificent Church OF St.
SEVERN, every stone Of which seems to recall d
tragic history OF religious and political passion,
that has hardly known cessation III TINS CITY
for period OF nearly eight centuries. As the
full choir Of voices und the stately organ rollcd
its peals through those vast aud massye vaul is,
RI nANy
dcyout congregation before INC were stirred BY
more than habit or self-intcrest. There WAS
real religious feeling in the crowd, the largest
that have yet seen in French church, and,
! what is unusual, consisting, at least rs 70
tenth part of the worshipers, of
men, and not simply Of women. But ii Cathol-
icism is to survive is religious force It must
rid itself Of those tainted political allies WITH
which it IS castin@ in its lot. 1t is chok'n"
t itself by adhesion to Lcgltlmisln which Is !
| toy, a playrhing, a rich mans whim, like old
lace or embossed arlnor It is corrupting itself
| by association with reckless Adventures, whose
| souls thirst after bubble companies an anu
! diplomatic prizes, and it is detllng
itself with an alliance with the 'yo!ln.
| b1oods' II Of debauched and shameless society
u selfish, idle, eucryatcd clique Of dan4les.
| As | passed down the street, full OF these
| thoughts, stood watching the religious works
! Of art in famous emporium Of plcty and
sacred momc1tocs. There are ccstatic Virgins
and Josephs iu statuary and plaster, in paint
and in print, an infinite variety OF snirts, aud
| the !Soidter Of Christ" with his Ambulance
! gear around him, and bullet through
| the centre Of his Geneva cross. 1t was q
| ycrr prctty--in part, very sublime. And beside
these sacred enblcms was gaudy and wa4y
picture Of the ' Last Moments Of Louis XVI
anu his Son." heroic and ecstatic, but marret
somewhat by four most globular tears, likt
pearls, which stood with strict precision On eac
Of the Royal and Princcly checks-all cold, fan
tastlc, unreal. Beside it all stood the only real
| works OF art in the whole collection-spirited
| pictures Of " High Lle,H after the style OF the
| ne Parisieu,le. All! [ thought, so It Is;
| Clcricalis1n is simply killing Catholicism.