, 1880-05-16
THE CLERICAL QUESTION IN FRANCE.

| 4Ac NHttU5tAt tZAttJtEIty IlEUttU 4Ot Ap1 II
contains very powerful article on the
clerical question in France, contributed by a
| French writer who is evidently thoroughly
acquainted with his subject and handles i.
! in mastery way. The article is the first OF
series, thus showing that he proposes to
treat the question in an exhaustive manner;
| but it is sufficiently comprehensive to in
dicate already that the passage Of the Educa-
tional bill is but IN incident of the struggle,
| and that the real issue involved is the old
| time contest between Republicanism and
Ultramontanism. To present even an alb
stract Of such closely-written and philo-
| sophical paper is difficult in the space at our
command, but we may succeed in sketchlng
some of the more salient points.
At the outset he lays down the broad gen
eral position that this struggle has been re-
| newed ag;lin in France because the clergy
have been allowed to increase their influence
| until the harmonious working of republican
ism had become almost Ill imDOssibility, and
because, while the Church and despotic gov
ernments can work amicably together, being
closely related, democracy and moral despot-
ism cannot be long at peace, having no COM
mon basis Of agreement In France the hos
tilitics were opened by the clergy, as the law
passed by the Chambers regulating public in
struction does not interfere with concessions
previously made to the clergy, nor does it
Introduce single new principle or DISPOSE
tion into French public law. 1T does
strictly nothing else but to reassert those
principles and dispositions of the public law
of France which were violated for party
purposes in 1850 and 1875 to please the
clergy" And again: 1T is not simple
privilege which is Withdrawn by Govern
ment, but a real abuse Of the law, which
must be stopped. The enormous multiplica-
tion of religious congregations under the
Empire had become at the same time great
evil aid al abuse; and it is perfectly absurd
10 say that n government should not inter
fere with abuses because introduced by the
clergy"
In answer to the argument so often made
that the teaching Of children belongs to those
who can give guarantees of morality and
ability, and that tits violation of their liberty
to prevent the clergy from opening educa-
tionaf institutions, he shows that the clergy
are not prevented from having such institu-
tions and that they possess many of them.
The object OF the law was to prevent Jesuits
and others never Incorporated by law from
forming educational associations, as it is a
well-known principle in law that all associa-
tions must derive their legal existence by in
corporation under the law of the land, At
the time Of the passage of this law there were
more than 25,o00 persons organized into es-
Establishments in France without legal exist
ence. How they hive succeeded in thriving |
and acquiring wealth is shown by the follow !
ing illustration:
Two years ago in one Of the central depart /
ing for an additional ALLEGATION from the muui- |
eipalty Of the city where it had its sent for the
Of IN asylum, As usual it repre-
would be tor such poor congregation to inHtn-
tnln fha asylum without the help demanded
vne dllGulties ties, having arisen between the
ton ',I:, was voted. member proposed to have IN
congregation so earnestly soliciting help was
actunliy possessed of property in two Or three
1apng n1p dex depairtmeats idn M repfessnting little
hat particular institution would undoubtedly
prove true with Utmost al Of them. The one
nnndred |,l and sixty religious congregations ut
tcigum: owning between them nearly four
h"usa11d institutions, have amasscd property,
;iuce tho revolution Of 1880, amounting 10
sorA@ wv AAItAIEA Allu lily nlIl1QlS. Ina |
iRious congregations Of France would. un- |
loubtedly. more than quintuplc that amount
The clergy took advantage Of the weak
less of the tottcring Empire to place them
selves above the law, and now that strong
government has come into power it resists
t, first, because such Government will not
olerate violation Of law, and second, because
he future Of the Republic lies in the direc-
ion OF its control Of education. Under the
'hurch, education is hostile to the Govern
aent~ Children are taught to hate liberal
SIN and to refuse obedience to their parents
they do not agree with the political beliefs
t the Professor. Young men are taught
n the higher classes that the principle Of the
overeignty of the people is both an i'm
lety and an absurdlty' that the sole fount-
IN Of TRUTH even social aud political, in
bis world, is the Pope; that no law is bind
ne upon the conscience of Catholics unless
pproved by him." To show how ab-
ard is the charge that the object Of
10 new law is to prevent Catho-
cs from educating their children In
'lgious Institutions he produces statistics
rowing that after all the unauthorized con-
.1e /