The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-05

pICbouCo 10 OooOAOl0A w Uuc COuSUlguIIOu VI
the tribunal. 1t is only when they override
the presiding Judge. as in the Jersey City
case. that they attract any attention; and
1t may we'll be doubted whether the exer-
else Of their power in this respect Is condu-
Give to the promotion Of justice.
France-Catholicism and Republication
So untoward has been the effect Of recent
incidents on the Pope's attempt to reconcile
French Catholics to the republican regime.
that one is not surprised that the reaction
lists are suspected Of having planned the
insult offered to the italian Government by
one OF the French pilgrims to the Holy
City. The sequence Of events is undoubt-
eddy suggestive.
1t has long been recognized at the Vatican
that no amelioration Of the position Of the
Papacy is to be expected through any inter-
vention on the part Of Austria or Germany,
30 long as Italy remains member of the
Triple Alliance. On the other hand. the
third French republic. since the kingdom Of
Italy has sided with its enemies. has much
stronger reasons for protecting LEO XIII.
than the second French republic had for
restoring P1us TX. This has become 80
clear OF late years to the mass Of reasonable
Frenchmen. that the former followers Of
GAMBETTA and present supporters I'm.
DE FREYCNET have relegated to the extreme
Radicals the notion that in clericalism re-
publicans should see their enemy. Far
from passing new laws calculated to cripple
and annoy the Church. the present Minis
ters have shown Willingness to soften the
existing legislation. No doubt the over
lures toward friendly understanding with
the Vatican would have been carried further
but for the fact that the Cabinet is still at
the mercy OF a temporary coalition between
the Right and the advanced Left. Never
theless. 50 marked a change had come over
the attitude and spirit Of the French Gov
erpment that Cardinal LAvIaERIE. In a
memorable speech at Algiers. called upon
his coreligionists to renounce the cause of
monarchy and rally to the republic.
The advocacy of free institutions by a
prince Of the Church dismayed and incensed
the reactionists. who forthwith sent Bishop
FREpPEL to Rome In the hope that the Holy
Father might be prevailed upon to signify
his disapproval Of the Cardinals utterances.
Not only did LEO XIII. refuse this conces-
sion to the monarchists. but he presently
his opinion that the time had come for a
cordial reconciliation betweensCatholics and
the republic. The Pontifrs advice was at
once publicly accepted by the Bishop Of
Grenoble and the Bishop Of Bayonne. and
1t was well understood that their example
would shortly be followed in other dioceses.
while another section of the hierarchy. not
yet ripe for complete conversion to repub-
lican ideas. was on the point Of taking a
position OF political neutrality.
Such was the state of things when
French pilgrim to Rome. while visiting the
Pantheon. offered grievous insult to the
Italian sovereign. There is no doubt that
the explosion OF popular wrath which fol-
lowed was disproportiOnate to the offence.
and that the Roman mob failed to discrimi-
nate between the individual author OF the
outrage and his INNOCENT companions. The
Pope was justified in complaining that adj
vantage had been taken OF the incident to
render access to his person dangerous. and
the Italian Government. on its part.
had pretext for demanding that
France should put stop to pilgrim
ages which might easily become the
cause OF international complications. AS
the French Ministry has just now no
wish to see its relations with Italy
any further strained. it acqulesced in the
demand and notified the French Archbish-
ops and Bishops that for the present pill
grimages to Rome should be pretermitted.
No one disputes that under the terms Of
the Concordat the French Minister OF Public
Worship had technical right to issue such
an order. but not content with disregarding
1t. Mgr. SouLARD. the Archbishop OF AK. re-
piled to the injunction In defiant language.
1t would have been better II NJ. DE fall
LIEREs had overlooked the Archbishop's
letter. As q matter OF fact. he prosecuted
the prelate for writing it. The result was a
fine OF 5000 francs. which the Paris Figaro
Immediately collected by subscription.
and general relapse Of the Catholic
hierarchy into their former mood OF
sympathy with monarchy and of hos.
tility to the republic. Selling the
opportunity thus offered. the extreme Rad |
icalain the Chamber Of Deputies have given |
notice OF demand that the Government |
shall notify the Vatican of tho termination
OF the Concordat at the end OF the year.
Caught between two fires. the Ministers
have. 1t is said. informed his Holiness that |
unless he censures the incorporate and vim
dictive language uttered by the Archbishop
Of Ak since his condemnation by the court. |
II will be impossible to long avert separa-
ton Of Church and State.
Thus IL seems that either an unlucky ac-