New-York tribune., 1894-04-05
I NEU ERA ~ FEiNCE.
in Albany

France is settling the Church AMI STATE queS-
ton with Il vengeance The recent a''l"h vi
thc Chamber of Deputies In relation 10 1t ""H
truly cpoch-making. Nothing comparaDic WIN
if in importance has occurred, 50 far aS 'n''
subject is concerned, for many years. i"r
parallel we must 90 back 10 the illhe "h'"
Gambctta exclaimed. "ClcricaliSln that Is 'hc
enemy" or at least To VI. FcrryS ru'hieSS
campaign against the religious orders '"h'hE'
AS it did unexpectedly. ii had all thc urahhauc
force Of a great surprise. Yet IL was not ln'
pusivc nor spasmodic. The Ministers seriously
but unhestatingly declared their policy Inc
Chamber by a handsome majority suStaihch
them in it; and the people OF France adn mere
TO their approval. We have, therefore, the III
spiring picture OF a strong and stable ""Verh-
ment that knows It's own mind ana mas the
courage Of its convictions, and commands 'he
confidence of the Nation.
Not long ago the Mayor of 81. Denis issued
an order forbiddlng the use Of religious cmblehs
I'm funeral professions. Thus mother conid
not carry crrcifix after the bier OF her son.
nor Mace cross Of immortelles upon his coiiin;
nor could the priest clad in his robes accom-
many the body from the church To the grave
This the Radicals applauded rs sccularisn, or
anti-clericalism To most reasonable men II
savored strongly of bigotry, intolerance ana
nersccutiOn When II was reported To VI. Spu-
lcr the Minister OF Public Worship. he annulled
fine MAYORS order, and was supported by his
colleagues in so doing Then the matter was
brought up in the Chamber Of Deputies Being
asked what he had done concerning the Mayors
order NJ Spulcr frankly replied that he had
annulled it. Forthwith NJ. Brisson, NJ. Goblet
and other Radicals attacked him violently,
charging him with having sacrificed the Stale
10 the Church. and with having made a compact
with the Pope. VI. Spullcr's answer was a com
plcte declaration of principles, going far beyond
the simple requirements Of reply. The times
had changed he said, and a new spirit OF toll
Grafton and liberty had arisen. France had out
grown the angry passions Of dozen years ago.
II would be absurd To keep mp those Old quar-
rels The Church had accepted the Republic,
and the Republic could afford TO tolerate rne
! Church Il have" he said mo reluctance IN
| acknowledging that regard the present Pope
as a man worthy the deepest respect although
| am not member Of any sect. religious or
Irrelgous The Republic must no longer lay
! itself open to the charge Of frvol0usly and
yexatously interfering with freedom Of con-
science The new spirit that must guide MS is
that Of humanity charity and tolcration." At
this the Radicals ragged and almost foamed at
! the mouth with fury. But when. on n motion
made by NJ. Brisson, n vote was taken, the Gov
ernment was sustained by 3O2 TO 10.
Not the least remarkable feature OF this his
toric incident the personality OF the chief
figure in it. NJ. Spucr was the closest friend
OF Gambeita, and the man upon whom, more
than upon any other. the mantle Of that great
prophet and tribune OF the Republic fell. He
shared Gambettas anti-Clcrical principles TO
the full when to be Republican II was neces'
sary to be anti-Clerical. For the last thirty
FIVE years he has ranked among the leaders OF
! free thought. Yet to-day he stands as the cham.