The Irish standard., 1888-02-11
THE STATE OF FRANCE.
Dr.. O'Rei]ly Sees in Mcnsignor
RoteIh 8 Possible Flu
ture Pope.
SOMETHING ABOUT M, CARN0T.
The Interest Manifested In the Relations
Between Capital and
Labor.

Labor.
The French Chambers have just uleb
while public opinion is not little ex-
cited over two very important matters.
One Of these IS the almost reDellious at
titude Of the Paris Municipal Council
toward the Government. The com.
munistic maj in that fractious body
have gone so far in making themselves
| independent and supreme, chat they
have relieved of the burden Of taxation
no less than 100000 heads of families,
tenants, aud petty proprietors Within
the city limits; but they have thrown
on the remaining rich or conservative
minority ali the cost of the municipal
administration. Besides, they are
openly organizing and arming forces of
their oWn, which are to uphold the new
Commune the moment it deems fs TO
procIaina its sovereignty.
In ny conversations With eminent
and most enlightened personages since
my arrival here, l. have learned many
things about M. Carnot, which in-
duced me to hope that the French re-
public was going to enter or q new
phase. a Government commanding
in the Legislature good working ma
jority would have before it a space OF at
least seven years to develop the coun-
trys magnificent resources, to strength
Ell. the position Of France among the
great powers, and to win for its free ia
stitutiona the confidence and support
Of all the conservative elements in the
population,
Ye3tpt1ay I had the honor of making
the acquaintance of M. Claudio Janet,
whose book OR American Democracy
has acquired him q world wide fame.
He is an enlightened and hearty al
mirer Of the United STATES. Quite re-
Gently he journeyed through our coun-
Try, seeking for information at the very
best sources. He is, therefore, q phil.
oscpher whose Judgment on our people
and instltu lions can be relied upon.
He told rae that he had purchased fox
his oldest sou ranch in Dakota Terri
tory, aud instructed aim to take out at
once his naturalization papers. Nj.
Janet, who is a fervent Christian and
one OF the lights of the Catholic Uni
yersity of Paris, is a type Of the good
men and true (and they count by the
hundred thousand} who would fain
place at the command Of the wise aud
conservative republican government
here their head and heart and hand.
We talked much about public education
in the United States, about tbs social
question, ana the workings of che
Knights Of Labor and other kindred So
cieties. gave him ali the knowledge
could about the real causes Of the
present trouble among the Knights.
We hosh agreed that Cardinal Gibbons
had pursued a wise course in endeavor-
ing to prevent action iM the Court Of
Rofae ullfavorable to the rights OF the
iaboring GLASSES. On this very matter,
as I learn from good authority, the i'll
defatigable Leo XIII. is preparing An
encyclical letter clearly defining the re-
spective rights and duties of capital and
of labor. We were all taken by sur.
prise the other day when, in the very
midst of the laborius preparations Of
the Papal u bis ee, appeared the ad-
tnirabie encyclical to the BISHOPS Of
Bavaria. Touching every chord in the
national heart, the Pope recalls the
Past Christian giories of the kingdom,
its princes, and its people; and then
sketches out with q snasterly hand the
couese which the Bishops, working i'll
unien with the Government, must fol-
low 80 raise The education of the Ba-
varian pOpulatlota and of their religious
guides TO the highest degree of scientific
ana practical perfection. There is an
appeal, full of tact and eonciliatory
eloquenca, to the rulers themselves,
which points to coming Concordat |
between Bavaria and the Holy See.
Ireland, meanwhile, is not foogotten,
Mr.. Gladstone is now in Rome, whittier |
he went at the express invitation of the
Holy Father. Tue Grand Old Man aud
the great Pope are both in their 18th
year. They are both endowed with
the qualities Of head and heart which
can draw them to each other; and they
both dearly love Ireland and deeply
with her in her presenC
dreadful extremity If anything were
needed to confirm the confidence Irish {
men have in the inviolable friendship II
;oWard themselves and their country OF t
he Vicar of Christ, this conference
With Mr.. Gladstone ought to strengG gGhen b
heir faith in Leo Kill beyond measure. 1t