The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-12-29
C0MTR ALBERT DE Nun.
THE YOUNG AND FEARLESS CHAMPION OF THE
FAITH IN FRANCE.


being declared invalid, on the old plea Of the
undue influence Of Clericalism. In the pro
longed debate that led mp to this decision he
plainly stating his views, since possibly he
might not again have the chance of addressina
the Cham ber; L; and while he on his aide de.
olared that the preliminary steps towards the
invalidation had been unfairly concealed from
him, on tae other hand some deputies Of the
Left took advantage of the oc,asion to make
most abusive charges against the muoh.de,
cided by three hundred and forty-six votes
against the election, to which were opposed
one hundred and sevepty.five for it. This was
the fourth time that the Comte de Nun had
been returned by his staunoh Breton support.
ers for Pontivy in the Grrondissement of Morbi.
han; and the charge of Clerical il fuenee was
shown ct the outset to be unreasonable by the
number of his majority, which was no less
than four thoueand. He will, OF course, seek
re election, and already at the o ces of several
OF the French papers subscriptions are being
expressions of sympathy and good-wi have
reached him, one of the last published beino
the warmly -worded letter from tho Comte de
Chambord. Aftes oongratula.ing de Mum on
his policy of showing with unhinohinp hand
the causes Of the decadence and degradation
OF their country, he, in q few words, exactly
Indicates the programmed the Comte de Mup.
one Of the French papers has done the latter
the honor Of complaining that he wished to
bring into the Assembly the principles of the
Syllabus and we have only to look back
"a
his eloquent address to the workmen assem-
bled at Chartres, to see that he well deserved
the nigh praise unintentional'y conveyed BY
tkat charge, for siuoe he first spoke in pnbiio
bis voice has always bsen raised. At ali
times and places, in season and ont of
season, to condemn the false maxims and
SLi mSiisleading social principles laid bare by the
Syllabus, and to further fearlessly and openly
the interests of the Church, 1t is no wonder
that, taking up such q role and standing pro
minently forward. he has become the object OF
ar n n nTlSIf lnn h tnh
and determined because it is mingled with a
jealous fear of his natural gif 9 and his un-
compromising spirit. He is the very man to
be q popular leader, st For God and for the
right" and his enemies know it. He mipht
be taken as the type of those men of faith and
OF c1ursge of whom the Comte de Chambord
speaks In his letter; aud, joined to these two
noble nslities of mind aud heart, he has to a
marked and unusual degree the gfc of elo.
quence, the faculty of bending language to his
VIII, the nameless power of an orator and an
ers the fascin alton of the truth. We are not
in the least surprised that every effort was
made, and successfully made, to silence such
vol voice b IN .iI the CHAMBER; but. after all it vii!
the new elections ct Pontivy seized and man
aged by some tremendous labor aud artifcsof
the enemies of religion. No doubt they will
do as much as possib BILE in the cabarets, which
are well known to be taken care of by the Re-
pablicans, and which, unfortunately, are
already sapping and undermining muoh that
gious life of the simple Breton people. Bat in
the end right is might, even in these perverse
days, and if the Comte de Nun should be de-
MED 8 hearing at Versailles his compulsory
absence can only last for . short period, and
he will make his voice heard By many larger
audience OF his countrymen before the time
comes for taking his indisputable position in
the Assembly.
He has said we'll that it is necessary not to
speak, but to aot, and he puts his own theories
into practice. Even il his work were to stop
H1w
done q vast service for the working GLASSES,
whose cause he has espoused, not as o Social
lot deceived and deceivipg, bat as q Christian
taking to heart the happiness Of those who
IN his Master 8 sight. We refer to his devo-
ton to the cause of the laboring GLASSES, at
once to give an example cf the practical bias
which he can look diffi ,ulties and disadvan-
tages fearlessly in the faCe-a quality which
What matters it"-he said boldly to
what matters it that we are still small
number Of men of good will lost among the
masses 7 The path of grand ideas has never
yet been first found by the crowd; they follow
when devoted men have gone before, tracing
the way with the sweat of their brow, or per-
haps, with the shedding of their blood. Do
not wonder" he added little later on. with
of which it is almost impossible to transfer to
another tongue-"Do not be surprised if your
numbers are not yet great and do not fear. In
that crowd of the people, agitated by passions
that are raising q tumult in it's bosom, there
is to be found-be sure of it-more than one
heart that beats with ours. more than one man
who, going back at night to the home that
knows peace no longer and that is dreary as
desecrated temple, sees the nothingness Of life,
The falseness of the IDOLS that he has been
Taught to adore, and By nameless instinct,
like the men of old who worshipped the Un-
kno wn God, hopes for q deliverance of which
his soul has already received mysterious It'd
ngs."
Such is the faith aud such the courage
grounded upon it, which give reason TO
hope for great things from the deputy whom
Pontivy had the honor of choosing and some
busy clique at Versailles the dishonor of re-
ecting. We can only hope that he will return
again from Brittany in triumph, and mean
v bile those who accord to him their symPa-
thies as most intrepid champion of the faith
lay recall with just pride his own noble
words, spoken scarcely three months ago
I'VE shall have to suffer already the persecu-
lion is being raised against MS. Let us well