The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-20
The Ministerial Crisis In France.


Whatever may be the immediate outcome
OF the resignation OF tho Ministry headed
by NJ. DE FREYC1NET, the gravity Of the sit
uation can scarcely be overestmated. Al
analysis OF tho vote and a review OF tn,
preceding speeches show that tho present
Chamber of Deputies has ceased to repre-
sent the country. and that the only trench
ant cure of the existing difficulties is dis
solution Of Parliament. Recourse to such
an expedient is probable because both Pres
ident CARNoT and a majority of the Senate
are believed to approve of the late Premier's
conciliatory attitude toward the Catholic
| Church. and his willingness to accept the
overturcs OF the Vatican.
The crisis was precipitated by discus
sion Of the Associations bill, which pro-
posed to define the conditions under which
the constitutional right of association shall
hereafter be exercised. The bill provided
that the names of all members. resident or
foreign. shall be divulged; that any retiring
member may require the repaymentof his
contributions: that only so much renl estate
Shall be owned us may be absolutely neces-
sary; and that foreigners shall he prohibited
from acquiring any kind of property by in
heritance or gift. Until Thursday tho
measure had been supposed to Ice aimed at
the religious orders. and was construed by
the Radicals as long and irreparabe
step toward the severance of Church and
State. Had this Interpretation been sane
toned by the Government on the reas-
sembling of the Chamber. there would have
been no crisis. and tho bill would have been
passed. Tho civil power. however. would
have been committed to course whose in
evitable result would be the transfer of the
burden Of maintaining the Catholic clergy
from the State to the peasantry. a result
which would almost certainly be followed
by the return OF u reactionist majority at
the next general election.
II at the outset the ex-Premier's inten-
tions had been correctly OWNED by the
Radicals. it seems evident that during tho
recess no had experienced change OF
heart. For such change there was abun-
dant reason. Convincing proofs OF sincere
and earnest wish to strengthen republican
institutions had been given by LEO XIII.
Notwithstanding the somewhat unneces-
sary severity exhibited by the Minister of
Public Worship toward the Archbishop of
AK. the Pope had refused to countenance
the indignant protests made by a section OF
the French episcopate. and had adhered
firmly to his purpose OF abandoning the
monarchcal cause in Franco and OF frankly
accepting the republic. To renew and en-
pha size his previous iniunctions. the Pope
requested Cardinal RICHARD. Archbishop OF
Paris. to transmit to the French Bishops
n letter directing them to stop their oppo-
sition to the existing regime. The Cardinal
declined to obey tho Holy Father on the
ground that the time was inopportune for
communicating the contents Of the letter to
the French prelates: and there seems to
have been some show OF pretext for the re-
fusal. as fifty royalist members OF tho
Chamber are said to have threatened to re-
sign il the letter was made public. But the
present Chamber. it will be remembered,
was chosen in 1889 when there wore no
signs Of recOncilement between Church and
State the Pope having as yet given no In
dication OF his belief that French Cath
olics ought to rally to tho support OF
the republic. In tho judgment. therefore. OF
the Vatican. tho royalist members OF the
present Chamber who profess to be more
Papal than the Pope. have ceased to repre-
sent tho wishes Of tho Clerical Conserva-
tive electors. 1t follows that their protest
should not have been needed by Cardinal
RICHARD. and there is an implied censure
Of that prelate in tho order given to the
Papal Nuncio at Paris to distribute copies
Of tho Pope's letter to tho Bishops. No
sooner was notice of this order conveyed
to the French Government than the gcnu-
ineness and fervor OF the Popc's desire for IL
close alliance with tho republic was recog-
LOT n1I In. 10.
sonable man in France who would have for
given M. DE FREYcINEr had he refused |
such recognition.
When. accordingly. the Government was |
questioned about the Associations bill Oh |
The reassembling Of tho Chamber. the Primo |
Minister amazed and disgusted the Radi- |
'als by declaring that the measure was not |
evelled at the religious bodies. and that in |
view OF the cordial sympathy expressed by |
he Pope for the republic he should stead
astly oppose the separation OF Church and |
state. This declaration, while it was GER
ain to estrange and embitter not only NJ.
,LEMENcEAU's followers but also the more
radical wing OF tho Ministry's supporters.
would have propitiated the monarchical
Right. had that body been sincere In its
devotion to the Church. and had
t not ut bottom been more eager
70 please the BOURBON Pretender
han Pope LEO XIII. The monarcll-
SITS saw chance OF interrupting the
'econcilement Of Catholicism and the
'epublic by turning out Cabinet which
lad cordially accepted the Pope's overtures.
80. for purely destructive purposes. most OF
hem-lll in number-cooperated with their
'wn worst enemies and the dead foes OF tho
church to oppose the vote Of confidence de-
handed by NJ. DE FREycINET. As the
Radicals were able to muster 1871, the COM
lined opposition cast 500 ballots against
1s thrown for the Government. We may
aota In nassinn TINT nj thu tina Of fhia 1