New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-05
rrLNcH rLEwS or RELIGLON.

Fran Frouce md me- French IN Kart HIlcbr1nd
Tie absence of anything like religious feeling is
very characteristic OF the French nature; the Ilh-
ouapr in fact. has equivalent expression. ] he
country winch for considerable space of time has
been the headquarters Ot Catholicism, IS hOI a. Il
rue religious in the German sense OF the woId:
Even where religion &ppc1S IN lis most lahilcal
character II IS not the deep personal iaih of tlc
/ German or the scusu0uS belief al an liallan hut
ia her form Of party uasson. In booa"c' INNS IL
the nationalist aud pm ii'au always appears; MS
love for his saviour comes from ms hca . not from
his heart Is there ans thing To distinguish MS
passion from that of political panty leader such rs
we so often i'm! N France aimort always above
mean motives. often without personal amplI"n ana
wholly absorbed in the mea nt his partE-an idea
which generally resolves itself INTO WORT. let
such fInatIclsm religion well ~ 10 politics Is
the exception among the middle CLASSES, however
widely it may seem to Toe spread over the satiacc:
Indifference l. the general rule. me majority nl
educated ireuyhmen are at the bottom Eutalr-
cans: they believe in persona! Cod and IL another
life and Herewith they are content. Not that this
is their uroie>,ed religion As 70 'rcnchman living
i'm good society wOuid be satisfied with evil mar
rage, cor hrUa'ion and OmnI1ion are nccrS-
Sarv part of the education OF his children Inc
diving never omit to receive thc Saciah:cl.f anu
however anti-CerCal the sentiments OF The lie
ceased individual may have been, a priest always
Gttends the funeral. Most families 20 80 iar aN To
fast on Friday, if II l. only PoHr d""rT icfempc
arr gcnS." IL would he Ovcr,huoing the max 10
call this hypocrisy. 1t - IN fact considered ma RI
to make ones external actions agree with ones IN
tcrna convictions in such matters. II shows Il
want Of good taste, OF which no educated French
pretty ana nIuty are the prIhc pies oil conduct
which are conscienIously followed.
Nor must we allow our elves 20 he deceived by
the extent to which tie French tOuPCOisie interest
themselves in the Societe de saint Vincent de paale
and other cliguus societies of the same kind. All
they wish to do thereby is to preserve religion in
the lower orders as autldOte against the subNer
sIVe influence OF the TrNOlUtIOal,tS. convinced as
they arr that for the working class morality and
Superstiton are inseparablc. This is chiefly, If net
solely the ground on which . IrcnchmIn of The
middle class goes to mass and confession or praC-
tees (pTGhGEGI lie very eXpreSSlNeIy terms IT,
I forget who called religion the best policeman
whoever 1T was he expresses the secret conviction
o! almost every educated fTcnch'nIn. mere are,
indeed. not few who accept wholesale and with
ont any previous examination the rel gi1n WIN h
they have practi~ed and seen praciised from their
childhood. as a Tcady-madc, consistent and final
solution of the fiddle of the WOt!d. 10 give any
further thought to the qutstIO would, IN their
eyes be useless, InCOnvcnicnt, and even dangerous.
OF curiosity and douht. from this chamber Of man
IMAGERY Let reason pass rryrrently by lest worse
thing, than ignorance Iciall her Even laS, al the
deepest French thinker after DcScHrtes, nhly ac-
terroIs Of sccptir,n--a wager tgGgrHrj IN winch
everything WAS ,sslIly TO lc won, ana nothing NO
any rate could De lost. Nor Is any autagnniom 20
The speculative doctrines OF the CuUIch implied IN
tue hatred OF priests. which is al work among the
French as m all Catholic nations be theF Of Latin,
German or Celt" race. IL Is logic. then beloved
logic, which carries the French into extremes as
soon rs Il enters religious gue,tIunS AMI which
renters them avcrse to creed - inconsistent rs
LuthcTauism, or the vague, UndOgmatic German
pirfisn. I'm truth, however, On" inn rusc majority
of educated FTcrchmen do not concern Themselves
st all with involvement question OF this kind. and
keep their heads clear OF the Supcrna uial ~ much
and ~ long rs possible. In fact. they hold rs the
pounlar saving goes. " NOiTc heioHev Dim JoHr nm
Inn BJHmc' which does not prevent them from
taking of their hat mechanically to hi,u.