New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-12
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.

less power IL has Tor MISCHIEF.
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS.
French Republcanism meets with 10 rcverses.
The gains in the municipal elections confirm
the general result of the preliminary struggle
last August on the partial renewal OF the Conu-
ellis General 1t was feared at that time that
religions prejudice excited by the enforcement
of the March DEGREES and social uneaSineSs
caused by the passage OF the Amnesty Bill
would lead TO n political reaction, especially in
fhc rural constituencies. The result WAS that
the Republicans gained 800 seats in a series Of
elections IN which more jhln 2.OOO,O 900 voters
took part. This was striking proof that Il
policy of prescription toward the unauthorized
associations and OF lenIency toward political
r,tdgrcS had not alcuatrd the sympathies Of
the masses. During 5hc past SIX months that
policy has been r2idly enforced. VI. dc Frey
cinct. having a Prot. SAINTS dislike Tor llIib"r-
atty and intolerance, was wiling to accept
oElyrOmSc whereby all the upauihOnz' con
eircatiuns except tie jesuit hou~cs might con-
form 10 the law and continue thril work. Forth
wih he was thr1s aside, and the author OF
the Seventh Clause become Premier with the
understanding hat no mercy wd- 10 he shown
10 i4C T. az ttiAr 'i'L'i- N 't'''''' '''N '''
forced with uu,crlIly zeal and unnecessary
brutality, aud the man h'dy oil th' Clergy were
forced to regard the pcrsrcg.iou Of tine Orders
a. blow Armed dir. cily ai Che Cuufch. IT, on
the ii.s, opportunity which the people have of
expressing their p0Iica. convictions, q q policy
of jhr party III power is virtually SuS'al ed.
The success, of t'e Republicans shows bow
strong is the artipathy Of ti,c mf.d.e CLASSES 10
rriIgI0us domiuaiaI. DufiuG the reign OF
Louis Philippe. when aa.i clerical legislation
W., al-n Cuar CO, tine wen. ny classes and ihc
boEic.pis,c gave il tarir hearty sup, orf Dun
ing the Fmuirc the education OF hc youth az
,I,o hsL.r cla.s.s was dirtr-rd mainly D.. lhr
Jc,uii,. and iittle by nttle Jlcrcl SIN became
supreme social and political force IN the State.
II q new order Of thnIs ina, been established.
II IVA, been because 'ne les ,taacc of the clergy
and thc orders has been overcome after dcs-
p"ratc efforts and uu0er excellent leadership.
The cxuu..ion of Ike Jc,'.ts has been advocated
on the ground that it WAS essential that the
middle and wealthy ciA.~c- should not bc a.
lowed TO conide thr thinning ot their children
to those Who we've ho:llc TO republican iusii.u.
uo4., ana chat thr only safeguard AGAINST
clerical encroachmcnt and imtI me wlsAp,p-
Niif MEME OF Ft'Ni t'lu|tlilON. Ut tOllNllT-
ucucirs have shown by heir action I'm AUGUST
and again this week thar hey share the prcju-
dicr of the Republican leaders AGAINST clcrica!
domination IN education as we'll Is IN politics
Probably if We could 90 behind tar returns nom
the municipalities aud trace me causes of tins
popular uprising against thr religion, bodies.
We should find that the majority Of the votct,
regard the enforcement Of the March dcrIcrs ~
a purely political Inrlsute aud disc',lm any i'm
tcn.i0n If UNFOLDING religious persecution. Per
hap, if We could 20 still further and explain
why this revolt aSdin,' the Jcsuits as a teach
iug body s.ould have cNtfnd'd to The religious
orders, we should find that while the people are
willing 10 give the regular clergy liberal sup
port, they rebel against The rcactionary ten
denotes of mOnastic traditions and pilgrimage
to Lourdes and Paray-le- MonEl. It may be-
that Yong France, IN supporting 4 Government