The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-20
THE FRENCH CRISIS.
WHAT rs BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT
DEFEAT OF THURsDAYs
Bishops In France Disobey the Orders OF
His Holiness Fintly. sna Declare War Up.
ON the Re what VIII the End BE

| about to be troubled again. do not simpl
| speak Of the incidents which have marked tn
sessions OF the Chamber Of Deputies In De
cember and January No doubt. those Incl
| dents were much to be regretted. They indi
| Gated. II not a rupture. mt least a slackenini
| OF the bonds which. during the pnst two years
| have kept a compact majority around thu
| Ministry. They forebodo for the spring ses
| sions parliamentary agitations which ma,
put in peril the Ministerial stability. and throw
us back one day or another into Govern
mental crises.
But tho worst symptom. and tho most un
fortunate. is not to be looked for in those
Incidents. 1t Is to be found in tho reappear
ance OF our religious question among the ele
ments of the political contests. Since the close
Of 1880 we have had reason to hope for an end
to this religious question. Prelates. authorized
by the Pope. had given orders to tho clergy tc
accept frankly the Republican form OF Govern
ment. and no longer make common cause with
the Monarchists. Letters and Indications that
came from the Vatican itself repeatedly con-
firmed this new Catholic programme. The
Imperialists and the Royalists. thus deprived
OF their principal element OF strength. recog-
nized the absurdity OF continuing u hopeless
struggle against the Republic. when they
found themselves reduced to their own num-
bers only. Consequently. they abandoned
almost completely their hostile attitude to-
ward the Government Ccasing TO shut
themselves up in IL permanent opposition. the
greater number resigned themselves to ncu-
trality. Some even went 80 far as to Join their
votes with those OF the Republicans on GER
tain occasions. Their press. discouraged and
feeling that 1t was preaching In tho desert,
saw the number OF its organs diminishing and
the circle Of its readers becoming smaller and
oil 4
the time Of tho recent visits Of President
Carnot to the departments conspicuous
personages OF the reaction. and Bish-
ops. too. making haste to present to
him their homages and manifest their
respect. The autumn session Of tho Conseils-
Generaux also gave happy confirmation to
these symptoms OF the fusion OF parties in tho
complete calm OF their deliberations. and the
total absence of acrimonious episodes. which
formerly never failed to happen under ono form
or another in the departmental assemblies.
fortuitous incident. insignificant in itself.
suddenly put an end to this general state OF
good feeling. rekindled religious antagonism.
revived the clerical pretensions. and conse-
ouently formed anew the more or less broken
ranks Of the anti Republican factions. It will
be remembered that in the month Of December
last young man. forming part OF group OF
French pilgrims In Rome. was guilty of the
imprudence. or rather tho giddiness. OF put
ting an offensive inscription upon the register
intended to receive homages to the memory Of
the late King. Victor Emmanuel. the founder
OF Italian unity This foolish aud, in all
thoughtless act on the part OF it's
author. was the immediate cause OF grave local
disorders and antiFrench manifestations in
several towns in Italy. and finally of COM
mencement OF diplomatic diflcultiea that were
over with considerable difficulty. A
CONSEQUENCE much more grave and moro
durable has followed this foolish act. which
has thrown France back again into complica-
lions which she had hoped wero past and
gone Tho pilgrimage Of which the individual
In question was member. that had
become tho primo cause OF all this
noise. was led bya Bishop The Minister Of
Public Worship judged it opportune to remind
no members OF tho Episcopnte that thew
shoula BliaH htB tffsB ilaf t3rsd an tdx4qen
prudence. and keep nioof from every manffes-
alton susceptible Of becoming tho cause OF
International disturbance. This warning,
'ery lust in its foundation and very moderate
n its form. called for no response. Tho affair
mould not have gone any further: but this
vas not the opinion OF those members OF the |
'lergy who had submitted with bad grace to |
he Republic. and were only waiting for the |
nance to rccommence hostilities against the |
vil authority. Bishop replied to the Minis !
orial circular In a naughty and almost insult |
ng letter. which was veritable challenge
brown in tho face OF the Government The
government could not afford publicly to DO |
'raved with impunity by one Of its function |
ries: for the clergy. paid as they are out of |
he public treasury. are in fact the employees
Il tho State. Tho offending Bishop was
rought before tho Courts and condemned to
ay a fine OF a few thousand francs. a purely
ormal penalty. destined solely to affirm the
OF legal authority. which inter-
cred neither with the person of the pre-
ate. nor even seriously with his purse. Never.
heless. it was sufficient to raise the cry OF
ersecution in the clerical camp, and to
ring out declaration that the truce between
he Republic and Catholicism was broken.
In justice to tho Pope. 1t must be said that
hese clamors did not influence him or turn
I'm aside from his policy Of peace and con-
lliation. Continuing. on the contrary. to ciye
eaceful counsel In the midst OF revived nas-
ions. he made use OF all his moral power to
inder the conflict from going any further.
here was reason to believe that no had suc
eeded. but the high French clergy bafrled his
ltentions by Issuing declaration OF war. |
men threatens to bring France back to the
orst days OF pelitico- rolgious antaponism
iat she has soon in twenty years
Tho title alone Of this manifesto indicates its
I'M and Its intention. The prelates who signed
presented 1t as an EXPOSE Of the situation
ads for the Church In France" That ia To
w. IN the very first line. that this situation ia
ot what 1t ought 10 be- and that the Catholics
light to consider themselves In the presence
onpressors. That is precisely the theme
Mon Is developed in the body OF the document.
ID 1t may be condensed into these four
ords la Repnbiiq"e c'est rennemi." In an.
,arance. certainly. the signers make an act OF
ihesion to the existing Government. "Aboye
THINGS they say. I'VE declare once more.
conformity with the teaching OF tho Uolv
70 ana OF Catholic tradition. that we aro max.
g no opposition to the form Of Government
men france has adopted" But It does not
nuire great effort OF pcrspicacity to dis
yer the profound III will and the sen,i-
Ont OF antpathy hardly concealed be- ,
nd this obligatory formula. which serves as 5
preface to regular attack upon thu
public and upon tho men who are di.
citing It, This argument comprises eight ,