The sun., 1891-01-11
old-time republican ever yet ventured to say As
much But whom prelate employs such lam

This profession OF faith, so vigorously affirm
ed. marks the end OF that alliance which for
twenty years has united the cause OF Catholi-
cism TO that OF the monarchy In France; and
this is what has converted simple aiter.din-
ner speech into u groat political event. In
order to thoroughly appreciate the I'm
portsnce OF this event and Of its future
consequences. we must remember that the
league OF the so-called conservative parties
subssted principally upon the support which
the religious question give to 1t. Taken In
themselves in . purely political eense. the
expression empire" and royalty" arc
In reality nothing but empty formulas,
theoretical terms. or conventional de-
vice. Their power OF resistance 10 repub-
lican institutions came solely from the clerical
organization and from the alarm thrown into
the public mind by the widespread belief that
the name republic was synonymous with
war upon Catholicism. This belief was
strengthened By some ill-timed and extreme
measures with which the republican party
unfortunately permitted Itself to be associ-
ated. and which gave to 1t the reputation OF a
prosecutor OF religion. 1t has been too often
forgotten that France BY secular tradition. is
a Catholic nation, and that tho first thing to
be done in order to win her Is to show respect
for her inner convictions. The clergy. finding
prsmacy but in their very existence. set about
sowing uneasiness among the people. and, by
persuadinR them that their faith was in danger
they made them follow them about to every
point whore anything like an anti-republican
nag was floating.
But now. whom they change their position Of
hostility toward the republic into one o; nd
hesion. We may soon expect TO see n general
reconciliation Reduced solely to their dynas.
tic forces. royallsts and Bonapartists know
very we'll that it 10 as imrossi BILE to make
king out OF the Comic de Paris as 1t Is to
mako an emperor out OF Prince Napoleon or
his son. party without a lealer inspiring
confidence. and without precise aim In view.
can have mother long life nor intrinsic force.
The few journals that profess to defend
what they call the ancient principles have felt
the blow that their cause has received through
tho unexpected manifestation Of Cardinal
LaviRerie. They tried to belittle the inn
portance OF 1t by representing It as the per-
sonal caprice OF man speaking for himself.
In this they have failed. Their arguments. on
the contrary, only serve to prove how deeply
they felt themselves wounded. The principal
monarchical organ admitted that. IL the at
tempt were now made In France to start an
election with the cry Of" JIpe le roll" or Vire
remprenr!" the candidates who should stand
upon such platform would be hopelessly
routed. Another journal admitted no less
frankly that there was nothing to he hoped
from an antl-repubican policy. Even NJ.
Paul dc Cassaguac that radical and irrecon-
cilable champion Of imperialism. let drop from
his pen the confession that never during tho
past twenty yenrs has the conservative party
leen In such wretched condition."
1t is therefore no exaggeratlon to say that
the Cardinal Archbishop. In pointing out to tho
clergy the necessity or adhesion to the re-
public as their future line OF conduct. has
opened up new era In our politics. We had
already had the precursory signs OF this evou-
ton Of the ecclesiastical world In tho zeal and
eagerness with which great nu nber OF pre-
lates and priests came to salute President
CarnoL during his recent excursions. OK press
ing to him their respect. and assuring him Of
their loyalty to the established govern
ment. 1t is also known that the rank
and flle OF the clergy. recruited almost
entirely from the popular masses. have
a secret leaning toward democratic insttu-
tions: but this disposition was held In check.
on the one hand by the inveterate conviction
that every republican Government must be the
born enemy Of the Church. and on the other BY
that strict Catholic discipline in the presence
OF which all personal opinions must be silent.
But now. since liberty OF thought has been
given to Catholic minds. that same discipline
must produce quite contrary effect In gem
eralizing the movement toward the republic.
which is now NO longer interfered with by the
question Of conscience.
Another member OF the high clergy has also
Joined his influence to that OF the Cardinal
Archbishop In a aletter addressed to tho priests
OF his diocese. the Bishop of Annecy author
izes them and advises them to adhere without
reserve and without scrupe to the established
Government. This letter Is remarkable not
only for its language, SO novel under the pen
Of an ecclesiastic. but for the decided tone
with which 1t treats as purely chimerical the
idea OF any possible return to the monurchical
form OF government. Upon this subject
| this bishop expresses himself even m ore clearly
| than Mgr. LaviGtre himself He boldly de-
| cares that the word monarchy has ceased to
have definite meaning for the majority OF
Frenchmen Of the present day, and that there
are very few at the present time who are able
to form anything like an exact idea OF what
constituted the monarchical sentiment in
former times.
1t would require n great deal OF ,eading"
said be. ito learn the meaning for our ances-
tors OF the words king and royal family"
| The observation Is profoundly true. and II Is
| probably the first time that 1t was ever made.
1t is certain that considerable portion OF the
population OF France has no conception what
evor OF tho personal and hereditary Govern
ment to which a few coterles preserve the
ridiculous idea OF bringing back the country.
But is it not strange that bishop should be
| the fir st to formulate this truth!
| The change OF front Of the clergy has had it's
| immediate effect in the centre Of tho mon
archical groups In the Chamber Of Deputies.
One would naturally expect this The hostile
attitude OF these groups has no longer any
reason Tor existence, alter the detection Of
| THAR COnGaunanflv v "a hud dua
q '9l was voted BY . portion Of the Conserva-
| tives, who Tor long years had regularly re-
fused to take any hand in the financial laws Of
the republic. On their part this was the r pe-
riodical manner OF protesting against its le-
| Rtimacy. Certainly II was II Pueri!e mani lfes-
Istlon: but the fact that those who took part
in It for 80 many years prev!ously, now consider
1t useless to persist any longer In It, s ut least
noteworthy This change Of front has been
| BILE still. Several prominent members OF the
parliamentary right state that they had re-
| nounced that absolute opposition In VIII 'ch
they had obstinately, Kept themselves since the
capitulatons were not withou; reticence and
restriction: but we can well afford TO allow op-
| ponents who admit that they are beaten to
| cover their retreat. and to stand with some de-
| gree OF hesitation upon the threshold OF the