Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-02-25

ton OF the ministry. In this partlcu.
lar II resembles England, though In the
latter country the defeat Of a govern.
ment measure means more than min.
isterial downfall-it means an appeal
10 tho people ut large, aud a new
Parliament a. well A. new ministry.
About q week ago what IL known as
the Associations bill was introduced rs
n government measure, and defeated
In the Chamber OF Deputies by
n vote Of 3Oi 10 200. This was
effected by coalition OF two factions
In the Chamber. Immediately after.
all the members Of the French Min.
iAtry rendered their r.oignatious to
President CafnOt. Since then the
political situation has been rather
critical.
French politics at all times are not
the slmPlest in the world, but at this
time they are more complicated than
usual. The prcfent crisis, however,
might be traced indirectly to the inci.
dent Of the French pilgrims In Italy
last summer, when insults to the mem.
DRY OF Victor Emanuel caused some
excitement. The French govGrnmen,
peremptorlly prohibited future pilgrim.
ages from France to Rome. The
Archblshopof AK, In rather intem.
pefate Language, criticised the action
OF his government. He was taken IN
hand by falllercs, the Minister Of
Public Worship, prosecuted and fined.
This led 10 sort Of poliiico.relIgious
agitation In France. II was soon ascer.
tainod thata strong party 1.-THE Chamber
favored a severance Of Church and
State. II led also TO what might be-
termed two parties In the church itself.
The radical wing, comprising mostly
the higher dignitaries, are monarch.
lists, and they endorsed the action OF
the Archbishop oiAix. The moderate
wing comprise the main body Of the
priests ana humble clergy, who are all
republican. They endorsed the action
Of the government.
At this Juncturc the Pope interposed.
He forwarded to the Archbishop Of
Paris a letter or eplstle to DO read TO the
bishops and minor clergy, instructing
them TO abstain from active intcrier-
ence IN politics. This letter the arch.
bishop withheld. The Pope, In the
meantime, seeing that his advice was
not complied With, forwarded a cory
Of his letter 10 his nuucio at Paris, who
had 1t promulgated among the bishops,
priests and lal,y. The archblshops
and cardinals did not like this aud
proceeded Immediately to 10 some nc.
tive political work.
DE Freyolt o., seeing that the Pope
and the humber clergy OF France
were In harmony with the republic,
decmed It prudent to meet theu half
way. lilo hal the Associations bill In.
troduced In the Chamber OF Deputies.
This was IN reality religious measure
ihA'hNtd W A'AbiaA' Nht i'iahbhr VI
Church aud State In such manner
That the priests ana bishops, and even
the Pope, could be made steaifast
friends Of republican government.
The measure did not suit the Radical
politicians nor the Radical cardinals.
Both factions united In the Chamber
and defeated It.
From this Il will no seen that the
situation In France 10 critical. The
high clergy are more Romish than the
Pope himself, and Join with iniiiels In
defeating a measure net hurtiul to the
church, but tending 10 weaken their
own prestige.
As much as 100000 francs is paid
annually by the State treasury to
the church In France. The richest
beneiices are held by church dlgnitar.
les who favor a rcsto ration OF monar-
chy. There are five Cardinals In
France, and they are active In politics.
The feeling is fast gaining ground that
n divorce between church aud state
would be the proper thing. The Pope's
reference to the United States In this
49,. L.. L..