The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1894-03-26
MATTERS IN FRANCE
An Exciting Debate in the
Chamber Of Deputies.
A Better Feeling Between Prenth.English
People Other News Items Of Interest.

Paris, March 26.-The chamber
If deputies, or the French house of
representatives, has had an uuloc ked
Tor, but very exciting and important
debate on the question of the rela.
lions of church and state, or rather,
f the attitude of the government in
respect to religious questions. A
Ieputy, NJ. Colhin, had interpreted
he government on the occasion Of
IN ordnance of the mayor of St
Denis, who had forbidden, not only
The performance of religious func-
lions and rites in the thoroughfares
and squares of his city, but also the
display of crosses and religious
paraphernalia of every kind. The
government had approved the
prohibition of religious ceremonies
and display of the clergy in the
streets, but had disapproved and
suppressed that part of the ordi-
nance which forbade the cross and
other religious emblems to be used
and displayed at public funerals,
either of Catholics, Protestants,
Israe lites or believers in any other
religion or sect. The radicals
blamed the government for
having suppressed the last part of
the oIdip ance, accusing them of
leaning toward clericalism, and ar.
guing that it was of the greatest
importance to save liberty and the
Republic from falling into the
hands of an organized clergy; that
hey are always exposed to danger
of destruction, and Of being replaced
by more or less disguised theo-
cratic tyranny, that the govern
ment seemed to give way step by
step to the wishes and entertainments
Of clericalism; that the clergy always
has commence d by small aud appar-
emily insignificant steps to invade
civil society, to finally turn it into a
religious, i. e, clerical organiza-
ton, with Goa and divine right as
the foundation and bulwark Of
their own theocratic power.
The government answered that,
as strongly as any one,
it opposed clerical dictation, power
and influence in politics, and that it
intended to defend the lay chara cter
of the French republican constitu-
tion and laws. But that, respect.
ing the liberty Of conscience, it at
the same time intended to leave
every one free to carry on his co.ain
the cross or any other sign he should
wish to. The minister, Mr.. Spuller,
who had been an intimate friend of
Gambetta, added that for himself he
belonged to no creed; not even,
said he, to free masonry; that he
was free thinker, and would con.
slider it his first duty to keep invio.
late his and every citizens constitu
tional right of free thought. BY a
large msjority the chamber voted
to endorse the government.
The actual relations between
France and England are less strained
than formerly. The speech pro.
nonnced by Earl Dofrerin, the
English ambass ador, at the annual
dinner of the Paris-English cham Der
of commerce, has produced an ex-
oellent effect on both sides of the
channel. 1t appears from this
speech that the am bassa ackno vi.
edges that France possesses some
rights of her own that are not to be
trampled upon by English ambition
or greed. OF course he does not
put it in the Sc words, but nevesthe-
less he intimates it plainly enough
to make English jngoes understand
1t. AS l told you before,
France does not intend to
war against England's legitimate
interests, but she will not stand
English encroachmeLt in any corner
of the world, under any latitude
and longitude. For instance at
Madagascar, where the French
rights (Which date from way back
to "A. ID. 1900 have be, acknowl
edged by England herself, there
always has been, aud is yet, more
or less apparent English opposition.
When France had to chastise the
half savage Hova tribes, an Enolish