The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-09-28
Ole qmtdiqlsstt1lEle59

wnrElIxo, september %, ls7s.

The poor Catholic clergy Of France are
handled rather numerically in your issue
Of to-day, in the shape Of an editorial
reproduced from q Cleveland paper, and
by the interview you had with Prof. Loos
who has recently returned from Europe.
There are, however, two sides to every
story, and If you can spare the space l am
sure you will be glad Of an opportunity to
give the other side q fair show. To this
end l beg to enclose you two editorials
from the Catholic RrieE on the late ut
teranees Of N. Gambetta, the publication
OF which will doubtless prove of some
interest to 3 large proportion Of you'
readers. SUBSCRIBER,
Our Subscriber" sends US two long
editorials from the Catholic Reritr, on
Gambetta's late speech. We have room
for only one Of them, accordingly subjoin
one OF them as follows: i a.Ir-s lI..r
II Is too evident that the troubles Of
France are not yet ended. The affected
moderation OF the leaders of the radical
wing of the Republican party has given
birth 10 illusions which Leon Gambetta has
now rudely and effeetually dispelled. The
great majority Of Frenchmen seem to be
at present Republicans, but il they are,
they arc also Christians, and they wish for
Christian republic. ltthey cannot have
this, they will have o Christian monarchy
or u Christian empire; they will not con-
sent TO be governed by an anti christian,
atheistic, and Communistic cabal. They
are Christian first, and Republican after.
wards. They, and all the well-wishers OF
France everywhere, have been hoping that
the lesson Of the past had been taken to
heart by the Radical leaders, and that
they would be content with a republic
which would respect religion, honor God,
provide for religious education, and pro-
tect the rights Of individuals as husbands,
wives. fathers and mothers. N. Gambetta
and his followers have until lately, adopted
q line OF policy that tended to confirm this
hope. But now he has thrown off his
mack, and declared that the Government
shall be atheistic, revolutionary and
Communistic. These men are enemies oil
God frst and Republicans afterwards:
They wish for a republic from which God
shall be eliminated; il they cannot have
this, they will strive TO oyerturn every
thing. drench the land with blood, and re-
new the horrors OF the first Revolution.
Iris is the meaning Of Leon Gambetta's
sneech at Romans. II was q wanton, I'M
provoked. and bitter, attack on the Church
and upon religion. The moderate Rep
ublicans throughout France have been dis
mayed by it; the Imperialists and Mon
archists 7 delighted with i, since they
see how this avowal Of diabolical purposes
will drive well.intentioned men from the
Republican ranks.
What Gambetta e by his fine
phrases may not be clearly understood by
every American reader. In plain langu-
age he a that the State shall take the
Church by the throat and strange 1t. The
priests are to be taken from the alters and
forced into the army; the students for the
priesthood. instead oflearning how TO save
souls, are to be taught the art Of killing
bodies; education is TO be m~ade,godless;
the Church Is not to be permitted to teach
her own children; tho conception OF tue
State enthroned In the place OF God Is 70
be carried out in practice. FRINGE Bis
m.rck attempted this, and he Is now
trembling before the F~rankenstein which
he has created. But Prince Bismarck,
with all his faults and crimes is still a man
who loves his country; and we believe ne
is now endeavoring TO repair the errors ne
has made. Gambetta has neither the
ability nor even the instructed patriot
ism OF the German Chancellor. be y IN
spiried only by o haired OF God, n an
Unsuitable personal ambition. de!
ces "the spirit OF therpast;" but this spirit
Is that OF the wisdom Of the age. he de.
nounces "the spirit of the Vatican n Of
the Syllabus"-bnt this Is because the
Church, through her head, has pointed
ont TO society the deadly dangers which
are brought upon It by men like Gambeta.
He speaks OF the clerical spirit" penetrat-
ing everywhere; but he means by TINS
that in his dark intrigues against the
Christian life OF France he has been met
everywhere by Christian men who have
thwarted him. His hypocritical protesta'
tons concerning his obstinate partisan
ship Of the liberty Of conscience VIII De
ceiye no one. "The duties that ministers
Of religion have to the STATE" are the
duties OF their vocation but Gambetta
would turn them all into soldiers, and set
them to the work Of cutting the Threats o.
their fellow e ,,
On the whole, we arc inclined to think
that this violent assault by Gambetta upon
religion is an indication Of his appreciation
Of q fact which we have for some time
understood. He is one who would rather
reign in hell then serve in heaven. y be
and his cabal OF followers were out OF the
way. the French Republic would go on In
its work Of consolidating itsel upon Q
Christian basis, and giving to the country
the inestimable blessing ola sober, solid
and Christian Government. In such q
Government there would DO no place t9F
a Gambetta; aud thus he seeks to impede
the present course 6f things, and to throw
the country into an agitation that may
result In placing HMM power: Hemakes
a fatal mistake. France wishes, perhaps,
to be ,Republican-but, il she does she
wishes to be q Christian Republic Not
to please n. Leon Gambetta, or all bis
followers, will she be either tempted OF
forced into accepting the domination. OF
the men OF the Commune, and OF being
ruled by the foes Of God and OF His
Church. lIA. la
The Washington & w~aynesburs Mario"