The New York herald., 1879-10-15
JULES FERRYS BILL.
Combat of Church and State in the
SchCOhOuSeS of France.
ECCLESIASTICAL WARFARE.
Archbishops Advising AIMED Resistance to
the Government Measure.

One of the first things to engage the active atten
ton of the republican government of France in its
entrance into Office the question of primary
teaching The Minister who has charge OF public
instruction ordered searching inquiry into the
state of the primary schools the location and con-
diton of the schoolhouses and the number Of viii
lagos and communes needing schools or the re-
organization Of old 1t determined to give
particular care to that part of State education which
covers primary instruction. Under the monarchical
and imperial governments it was thought sufficient
for the children il they knew their catechism.
learned from the lips of the cure and very little at
tenton was given to the schools NJ. Theirs himself,
though humbly born. willing to close the
schools seeing the rapid advancement of repubi-
can ideas under Louis Philippe. He said Education
Is the beginning of competency" And competency
In provincial France meant revolution in thought.
wRETcHED SCHOOLS.
The condition of primary instruction may be
ceved when it is said that the result of the inquiries
instituted by the Minister of Public instruction re-
vealed the necessity Of establishing II 800 new
schools. Of enarging 5.45S schoolhouses and of
pairing 3.7S1. The figures Of 900 do not mean
that there that number of villages absolutely
without schools. but. rather of those that needed
two three large schoolhouses where there had be
|
| of the government the question OF primary
instruction made great stir among the
clericals and their friends They felt that these
were but the initiatory moves toward revolution
| in the system OF public instruction and began to
| prepare for new developments. Hence they were
not astonished when the Jules Ferry bill was pre-
sented in the Chamber having for its object to
wrest from the clericals tho power Of comforting
degrees and to turn the Jesuits of the schools
Thereupon began the desperate struggle which is
| going at this moment all France-a combat
in which the opposing parties hate each other with
profound md inextinguishable passion combat
in which neither party is disposed to yield. and yet
where the other must inevitably give in. and
that very soon In no other country is the battle
between modern intelligence and medi@val eccle
siasticism ferce bitter. 1t is very interest
ing fight. and is watched with the keenest and
deepest attention both in Europe and America.
TILE YOUNG MIND or FRANCE.
The present aim of the struggle is simply as to
which Of tho parties shall capture and train the
young mind of the coming generation. TO i'm
partial observer the position Of the clericals is. in
sense. stronger than that of their adversaries.
The entire Catholic clergy have ranged themselves
the side Of the Jesuts, while in the republican
camp there is q very decided difference Of opinion
to the expediency Of dscussing-to say nothing Of
voting-the famous seventh clause of the Ferry bill
The priests boldly they the authority
to teach from God Himself and declare that author
ity above and beyond any civil power. and they de-
nounce the action Of the government o In the
interest Of atheism and socialism against the
Almighty and His humble and devoted followers.
| The republicans dare not make the Wholesale on
slaught the position Of the clergy which
they would. First. because the men in
| power not Of character to undertake
great radical changes. and next because they love
place better than principles. They will not separate
Church and State. they will not turn the regular
clergy out Of the schools they will not put in force
the French law against the existence Of converts,
and yet they have France by for the sake
of lame little crusade against the Society Jesus
1t is true that these monks have authority from
the State; they are interopers and outlaws accord
ing to French law, but the 1l3. $50 and
Sisters Of Charity who inhabit the thickly strewn
converts OF France. The government does not medi-
tate interfering with these. yet 1t plants itself on
the French law OF 1874 against the Jesuits If its
position unassailable. The law voted by the
Constituent Assembly OF 179O. which has remained
undisturbed by succeeding governments. Is as fol-
lows
henceforh recognizes solemn monastc part
% % s % assiGsS % roTSas S orders and nd.
and shall remain m France and no
tabiishod ''A' u ''' wiz 70 A'''N'1 70 % ''
This law has remained dead letter. but it has
thought of interfering with the converts, yet the
against the Jesuits embodied in the seventh
clause OF the Ferry BILL gives the clercas grounds
for saying and no doui honestly believing. that au
onslaught will presently be made against these good
women. and that the converts will be closed.
unmixed with tear. Of republican governments and
there Is CONSERVATION in
Shrines. where their vgils pale eyd virgins keep,
And plying saints, whose statues learn
PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
The radical Left in the Chamber warned the
Minister that the seventh clause Of the Ferry bill
uOt
the of the Jesuits since 1t did them
from French territory and that even IL passed it left
the Society of Jesus free approach the young
OF France through spiritual teaching. which
quite as dangerous as their secular instruction.
The Loft offered the following amendment instead
OF the seventh clausc:-
No Is allowed direct public private establish
ton therein. IL he belongs the secular clergy a
gious community or he has not ceased TO belong TO
applicable TO and professors Of faculties Of heo
law laws VI ''''S"-'' " ""''''0'
Jules Ferry and majority of the Chamber were
opposed to this amendment. and il rejected by
ISL to 7S votes. They thought it too sweeping. NJ.
Ferry stated that 1G50.000 children. OF whom
900 were little girls under the teaching OF
the authors zed clergy. aud that he did not think 1t
possible to replace them in that service. More
over the majority OF the Chamber. with NJ.
Jules Ferry. perfectly well satisfied that tho
little girls should have religious education. There
is nothing IN the world 80 offensive 10 Frenchnan
a scientifically educated young lady. Besides,
the little girls not prospective voters 1t only
the boys who. far practicable. to be got out
OF the clutches or the clcrcas. The Jesuits, being
outside tho pale OF the law. considered lcgiti-
mate objects of attack. They have 1900 pupils now
In their schools. The other unauthorized monks
and nuns have 1000. The government collegiate
schools and universities number $4,000 pupils. 1t
Is hoped that tho passage OF the seventh clause
the Ferry bill will add 10000 pupils to the state
schools; but this Is doubtful 1t IL moro than
probable that the pupils OF the Jesuts would sock
schools under the head OF the regular clergy alone.
TEMPEST BILL.
The discussion on the subject grows every day
more and more heated and acrimonious. and France
IL haa sver
OF NJ. Jules Ferry and his adhorents to the cry OF
the clcricals that 'it Is upon religion by the
sociastic spirit OF tho tne." is that 1t Is no such
thing. and that they only seeking to go back to
the laws passed thirty-hve years ago under king.
This assurance however does not silence the clergy
Eor change the character of their on tho
republican government. They worked up into q
whto heat ON the subject, and have put forth AN ex
traordnnry zeal and activity in getting up opposi-
ton to tho bill throuphnut nrnxluciai Erance~ A