The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-23
Religion and Democracy in France.

Religion and Democracy in France.
There Is going on under our eyes in
sions OF opinion that has been witnessed in
. hundred years.
From the foundation OF parliamentary H.
stitutions In that country. tho democratic
spirit and the Catholic Church have been
arrayed against each other in seemingly
implacable hostility. The sccularizatlon Of
ecclesiastical property was followed by tina
refusal Of q great majority OF the episco-
pate and priesthood to take the oath
OF allegiance to the Constitution pub
lished exactly century ago. The
second French republic was wrecked
upon the same obstacle. for the coup
GStat OF Dec. 2. 1851. was rendered possible
only by tho existence OF a reactionist
Catholic majority in the Legislative cham
Der. So. too. tho third republic. to which
the Versailles Assembly reluctantly gave
birth. had up to the autumn elections OF
1877 desperate struggle for existence
against an alliance OF Catholicism with the
friends Of monarchy. Indeed. for twelve
years longer events seemed to justify CAM
BETTA's warning to his fellow Republicans:
In clericalism sec your enemy" For
the influence exerted by Bishops and
priests In rural districts was tho most pow
srful impelling cause behind the Boulan-
gist movement. whose overthrow in tho
general election OF 1889 required the most
relentless exercise Of tho means Of pressure
and seduction at the disposal OF the Minis
try In power. Had this state OF things con-
tnued. had BOURBON and Bonapartist pre-
tenders continued to find supporters In the
chief Catholic ecclesiastics. the workings OF
the parliamentary machinery would have
remained subjected to the same derange-
ment which they experienced In England
itself in the reigns OF WILLIAM and MARY
and Of ANNE. or 50 long as a considerable
number Of Jacobltes were returned to the
House of Commons. For the essence Of
government by parties Is that. while these
may differ as to the direction and rate OF
progress. they shall both be equally loyal to
the constitutional regime itself.
Now for the first time there is prospect
that tho needful conditions OF a true gov
eminent by parties may be forthcoming in
the French Legislature. through an almost
universal acquiescenco OF the people in the
the convictions and feelings OF II large frac-
ton OF the citizens n change not less revo-
lutionary because gradual and peaceful
France will be. no doubt. primarily in
debted To tho sagacity and foresight OF LEO
XIII. WD may DO certain that Cardinal
LAvIoRnrE, unless he had been certain
that his words would be sanctioned
by tho head OF the Church, would never
have ventured to invite his co-rcligionists
as no did In memorable speech. To- desert
the rcnctionists forever and to march In n
body into tho Republican camp. At all
events. his words were formally sanctioned
and oven emphasized. by tho Supreme Pom
dH. whom Bishop FnEpPEr. bore the nnxio,ls
protests OF the Monarchists to the Vat,cun
On tho other hand. it must as freely
be admitted that the ovcrtures OF the Cntho-
lie Church have been met In n cordial spirit
by President CARNor. Premier DE FREYCT-
NET. NJ. JULES FERRY. and other inilucn-
tial members Of the Republican faction at
present dominant in the Chamber
of Deputies. That Is to say. what is
left OF the old Opportinists. Joined
with considerable section OF the Rcpub.
lican Left. see In tho future the materials of
Q strong moderate party obtalnable through
fusion with tho existing Republicans OF tho
Centre. like NJ. LEON SAY. and through the
at tho next general election OF
Catholic Conservative Republicans for the
present champions OF monarchy. 1t Is
not yet a year since tho first symptom
Of the new movement appeared In the
famous toast proposed at the banquet in
Algiers by Cardinal LAvIGERTE. All the
that will normally clapse
before tho next general election will
be needed to complete radical trans
in the attitude OF jealous Catho-
lies toward republican institutions. Stepped
ss they are In an age-long tradition Of an
tipathy and In bitter memories OF suffering.
q few of tho Bishops and small fraction OF
the priesthood may long show themselves
to the counsel OF the Holy
Father and to the resultant veering of Cath
Ollie opinion.
The avowed adhesions. however. to the
now programme Of the Church have been
numerous and striking during tho recent
progress Of President CARNor through the
French provinces. Tho Bishop OF Grenoble.
Mgr. FAvA. siGnifled In public and unusu-
ally impressive way his frank acceptance
Of the republican regime. and many other
members Of the episcopate and priest
hood followed his example with moro or
less of outward demonstration. Another
sign Of the leaven working in the mass of
the Catholic population is the formation OF
an ostensibly neutral party. which. design
edly or not, Is destined to serve as bridge
= .x-x.- 49, ,uonda m frianda of mOnarchv