The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-29
TEE SOCIAL rAosLrx IN FRAME

Hna Various Substitutes rroposed-The
rsps's Policy and the French Catholics.
PARIS. Aug. 12.-Tor the second time since
the commencement OF this year. the electors OF
france have now recorded q vote which has
put them In motion In all parts OF the country.
In the month OF May there was a complete re-
newal OF the Municipal Councils. On the 31st
OF July the Departmental Councils were re-
Moved by onc-half. according to the law which
calls for their election onco In threo years.
As usual tho day passed on calmly. and per.
feet order nsvcr once ceased to mark this sur
prising character OF our elections. which hns
existed ever since universal suffrage was sud-
denly introduced into Franco in lS4S As
usual, also. the votes have given Increased
majorities to tho republican party. and at
tested the continuance OF Its progress among
the electors. After this defeat. which has
Just been added to all tho others that they have
suffered for the past twenty years. the repro
ssntatives OF tho old parties are now nothing
moro than scattered fragments Almost all the
departments. where they still have preserved
supremacy. kept up by old Traditions. are slip
ping from their hands. Another step in ad-
vance has boon mado toward national fusion.
from the political point OF view.
III report this result. which is only the nat
urnl effect Of the march Of time. 1t is because
circumstance lend to 1t n moro than ordinary
Importance. 1t gives testimony to u r%econcil-
iation. which we were far from toreseeing n
few months ago. when the war proclamation VI
the Bishops was issued. At that time It was
apparently quite tho contrary that We had to
fear. on account Of tho resurrection Of relig-
ious antagonisms. 1t is to tho Popo TINT we
are indebted for wardinG of this danger. the
consequences OF which might have gone very
far Thu pncinpntiop which No yitposs to-day
Is exclusively tho work OF Loo. NH. and OF 1.-THE
repeated counsels. followed by formal orders.
by which he imposed silence upon the nEitators
OF Catholicism. All his flrmncss and all his
authority were necessary to force them to bow
to the republican Government. Tho elections
OF the 3lst OF July prove that he has succeeded.
At tho same time. We should not deceive our
selves with tho notion that all animosities are
extinct. and that tho ultra catholics may not
again raise their heads on tho first favorable
opportunity. 1t IL with au undisGuised bad
grace that many Of thcm have changed their
attitude. and that certain Bishops in particular
have ohcyed the imperative order from Rome
and consented to separate politics from re-
hgion. II an event which the great age of Leo
NIL. renders possible ut any moment. should
=, cause the tiara to pass upon the head OF n new
Pope. less active and less firm. We should soon
witness the temperance OF the militant
spirit OF q portion VI tho high clergy against
the republic. But. for all That, it is SO much
i. time gained. and the broken lines can be only
partially reformed. even supposing that tho
Obstinate prelates should later on receive en-
enlargement from q future Fontin.
. The confusion thrown into the monarchical
ranks by the paral Intervention. which has
taken from them the alliance OF tho religious
element becomes apparent especially in the
language OF the candidates. For the first time.
, the electoral programmes have been exempt
from hostile TRADES against republican insti-
, tutions. and from tendencies to their over
throw moro or less Immediate. Out OF three
or four thousand candidates. We can't count
ten that have not accepted categorically the
existing regime. Certainly this submission
has not always been exempt from reserves
respecting the manner in which public affairs
arc conducted: but the essential thing is that
the principle Is now recognized in spheres
whore they refused UP to the present to admit
l." It even with the lips. The Government still
has an opposition. but this opposition must
henceforth be constitutional Up to the pres
snt time It has been uncompromising. irrecon-
cilable. and factionist.
regret to say that the success obtained in
the elections OF the 31st of July on the side OF
tho political parties. is not to be found in the
, circles in which the social question Is aci-
tated. This aspect OF our situation tends
rather to become darker. Without losing any
thing Of the confidence that the future has
Away, inspired me with in regard to the labor
question. I cannot ignore tho fact that it pre-
sents some points of anxiety at tho present
time. The fame given to anarchism by the
exploits OF Ravachol has not finished with
him. as We might have expected. That kind
of popularity which his crimes have brought
around his name. has created proselytes. at
least in words. The men who shout Hur-
rah for Anarchy" without knowing what 1t
means or what it may lead to. have become
= multiplied In an extraordinary manner. At
present certainly they make more noise in
words than ~ actions. and have acquired
neither the force nor the cohesion OF n party.
But the increase OF their numbers. and the atti-
tude IT defiance which they assume. are suf-
ncient to revive and keep UP n certain amount
of uneasincss. The timorous imagine that
behind these Anarchists in appearance there
is u mysterious influence and apower OF per-
turbation much moro threatening in their
minds than tina reality presents. The daily
commentaries Of tho press. and the place
which Anarchy has taken In tho preoc cupa-
lions OF the police. contribute to the increase
of Its importance Tho result is that appeals
to hatred and calls for social reprisals fnl
many echoes; and they are becoming some
what conta gious.
H.
Cp to the present. tho war OF classes has only
made its appearance in Franco in tho speeches
OF the Anarchists. 1t has now boen inserted
IN the soci;listic programme. and that Oh tho
occasion Of tho %nationa. festival. considered
unit! now rs a day OF concord destined t" ucite
ali republicans In one common celeora-
ton. The 18th OF July was chosen for
this festival because it was q day recalling
only the recollection of universal liberty. with
out svokins tho memory Of any unfortunate
event for any party. Tho destruction OF the
Bastile on tho 18th OF July. 1888. simply
marked tho end OF the reign Of despotism.
without any of tho eycssses that tho revolu-
ton brought on at q later period. Accom-
pli.hol suddenly In e momen OF popular OK
a~le,ttion. In which the army became associated
By tho cooperation Of the French Guards. this
first outbu-sc o. liberty was for the cntiro
world like the daw OF u new ara. snluted by oil
peoples with the same hope. We have wit
messed how tho hund rcd years. that have rolled
hv sip,a than. huyn ralliZal tina DrDmiseS