The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-24
The Pope and tho French Crisis.


rendering to the friends OF democratic gov
eminent in Europe by bis inilcyiblo refusal
&c rctract ut this critical coniuncture tho
advice by which majority OF French
Catholics have been transformed into sup.
portcrs of Tho republic. Just before tho
outbreak OF the Panama scandal tho mon
archist leaders. who were probably aware
ot the impending revelations. made strenu-
Gus efforts to persuade the Pope to assum"
q less friendly attitude toward President
CARNOT and his Ministers. and these Efforts
have been since renewed on the specio's
plea that the Legislative representatives Of
the republican party have now been shown
to DO irrcparGbr tainted with dishonesty
as well rs atheism. The Pontifr. however.
has declined 10 hold the masses OF repnb-
lican voters responsible for the corruption
OF certain leaders. or To- condemn an APP
proved form OF government because many
of the politicians who have llouriShe,i under.
1t have proved unworthy of trust.
II Is the Popes refusal to denolince tho
republican regime merely because the
existing legislature Is accused and perhaps
guilty OF harboring n hundred bride takers.
that accounts for the tranquility Observed
during the last exciting fortnight III the
French provinces. This absence OF rero-
lu,onary agitation is tho more noteworthy
because the provinces contain vast ma
ioritv OF the hundreds Of thousands OF small
investors who have been defraudcd by the
managers and tho blackmnilers OF The
Panama Canal. Had LEO NIL. been in
duced 10 say that much as he might regret
the fact, events had proved the present
form Of government in France to bc ire
deemably bad. every parish church would
have r,lng with passionate reprobation OF
The republican regime. and every Bishops
see would have become the centre OF an
Organized movement for its overthrow.
The silence. one might almost say the
apathv, OF the provinces in this crisis can
be attributed to nothing but the conviction
planted in them by the head of the Roman
Church that change OF government is
undesirable. ana that a change OF admins
,ratiun must he accomplished in order at
Il general election.
The unwilingnoss OF the French prov
incrs to make the republican regime ac-
cjuntable for the sins OF individual rcpub-
Leans is death blow to the hopes OF the
Comte DE PARIS. Deserted by the prov
inccs, he has no chance Of influencing the
army. Repeated elections have demon
strated that Paris would be Socialist II 1t
were not republican: aud the Generals con-
trolling the standing army will never con-
nive at Socialist revolution. 1t Is true
that Partisan conscripts might be imbued
with Socialist opinions. but these have been
carefully distributed in districts remote
from the capital. and the garrison OF Paris
under Gen. SArsslER is exclusively made
up OF provncials. The present Govern
ment might find these soldiers refractory.
| II in the provinces there were concerted
and resolute demand for n reversion to the
monarchy: but the Paris garrison can be
relied upon 20 put down O Socialist upris-
| ing. This Ia an element OF the situation
which should he constantly kept In view.
| The coup tfttut OF Dec. .. 1851. would have
been utterly impracticable IL the majority
of the Legislative Assembly. instead OF
President LOUIS NAPOLEON. had control OF
the Paris garrison.
The Pope's uniipching adherence to the
French republic in its hour OF peril not only
bears witness to his sense Of justice. but 1t
Is in the highest degree expedient from the
viewpoint OF Catholic interests in France
Had the Pope retracted the words OF friend.
| Sllp dluIeSscu W SAHNoI dul
his Cabinet. and had he authorized French
Catholics to avail themselves OF the Panama
scandal to blacken and demOlish the estab.
lished form OF government. no overtures
OF the Catholic Church for reconciliation
would be hereafter listened TO. when. as
would inevitably happen after brie
term of nonarchical reaction. the re-
public should be restored. Events would
he held to have confirmed the charge
made by the Radicals. that the Pope
had accepted the republic only TO betray 1t
Now. on the other hand, the Pope has giveI
conclusive proof OF his sincerity. and none
hereafter will venture to pretend that q
Catholic candidate for the Chamber Of Dep
uties would I've an untrustworhy custodian
Of the republics interests
The Popes attitude at this junctnre vii
go far not only to assure the stability o
the republican regime. but to give Catholi'
Conservatives. who at the same time ar,
convinced republicans. II prcpond"rance il
: the legislature AT the next general election