New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-20
CLERIEALISM IN ER1 NOE

Z
canvass which has now drawn to close is
the apathy of the clergy. Times have changed
since NJ. Gambetta branded Clericalisrn as the
enemy of the Republic, and reactionary in
trigues were inspired by spiritual directors. SO
long as the monarchical parties were in
trenched in political power at Versailles and
there was a fair prospect of President Mac
Mahon's opening the way for some kind OF q
Restoration, the clergy ranged themselves in
an unbroken line on the side of the ROyaists
and Imperialists and when the opportunity
by which second George Monk might have
profited slippedaway and the self wled Marshal
ventured upon civil rather than n military coup
detat in the interest Of turbulent factions
which had been unable to agree upon a COM
mon basis of action, the influence of the
Church was again brought to bear upon the
constituencies to prejudice them against
Republican institutions. Clericalism has been
paralyzed as political power. It's press no
longer thunders out denunciations of the god
lessness of Republicanism. It's bishops have
lost their interest III politics, and its minor
clergy are slowly acclimatilg TO the new con-
ditions Of public life. Monsignor Freppel, in
offering himself as a candidate for reelection
from Brest, sounds the old note of alarm
in denouncing the March decroes the
new system of education, the secuarization of
cemeteries, and the liability of seminarsts 70
military service. If he secures reelection he
will probably be the only ecclesiastic in the
French Legislature.
If the resistance of the clergy has been over
come, it has not been because the Republicans
have had the good grace to be tolerant in
dealing with the religious orders. Clericalism
has been punished as if it were in reality the
L., - l..l
Republican leader. The Advanced Republic
cans are still breathing ont threats aeaiast the
Church, and the Moderate Republicans do
not evince any disposition to dsclaim
responsibility for the DEGREES against the
unauthorized orders. The Catholic press ac-
knowledges that it has little but evil to ex-
pect at the hands of a Government that cx-
pels tho ministers of religion and desecratcs
chapcls. Yet 1t is plain that there is large
and growing section of French Catholics who
desire a reconciliation with the Republic They
are more anxious TO keep the country Catho-
lie than they are to restore monarcbica
form of government. When they are told
that the Church has suffered under the intol-
Grant rule OF Republican President, they re-
ply that the Government of Louis ,Quatorze
was as rebcllious and sclf-willed in subjcctng
spiritual to temporal interests as the Govern
ment of Jules Grevy. Why should Catholics
be Royalists or Jmperialists, they ask.
when events haye proved that Theirs was
right when he declared that the Republic was
the only Government that was possible In
France Why should the clergy ALLEVIATE the
sympathies of thc great body of the people by
offering resistance to institutions that are
grounded upon the popular conviction that
they are absolutely necessary 1t has not
been easy for the Lcgitimst Catholics TO re-
iute these arguments, especially when the
Papal Nuncio at Paris has been quoted as an
advocate of a concliatory policy whereby the
Interests of religion may be promoted and pc
htical prejudice alone sacrificed
IL there were not "A division OF opin-
ion such as we have outlined among
French Catholics, the electoral canvass
would again turn upon religious questions
The pous country cures would be dcnouncine
the goddess followers of Voltare for perse-
cutting the Church, and wherever a reactionary
candidate had reasonable expectation of cleo
ticn they would be enlisted rs effective cleo
tIoneernS agents, us was their habit under the
Empire. 1t would be idle to assume chat n rec
ohclilatlon has been effected in any quarter,
but there are many proofs of the determine
ton OF the clergy to maintain position Of alb
solute neutrality in political contests Thor
attitude during the present canvass NAV pro-
mote tolerance, political and religious, in fu-
ture. The political leaders, who have been IA
fanatical in their way as the disciples of Loyola.
may cease to have morbid dread Of the polti-
cal tendencies of the Syllabus if they perceive
that the clergy are no longer bent upon med
ding in politics and Wrestling from the hands
OF the laity that great weapon of popular lib
Capitalization.
WHERE TO TAKE THE CHILDREN