New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-25
THE POPE on FRENCHMEN'S DUTY.
HE COUNSEIs FAITHFULNESS TO THE RE-
PUBLICAN ANSWER TO AN ARCH
BISHOPS QUESTION.

What is deemed by Catholics 10 be one Of the
most important Of the recent utterances Of the
Pope Is contained IN short letter to Monsignor
Servonnet. Archbishop CT Bourges. France, under
date of May % last which has just been made
public The letter is addressed TO the Roman
Catholics of the French Republic through the dis
tinguished Archbishop OF BOurges, and was In re-
Spouse TO a communication sent by that eccesiastic
the Holy Father, asking II the Interpretation put
upon late apostolic documents and letters by GER
tain adherents Of the Royalisj party Of France. as
being antagonistic 10 democracy and the republic,
was correct. The Archbishop wrote that feeling
had become prevalent among the Royallsts that
opposition to the republic had the approval OF the
Sovereign Ponuf, especially through a mlsconcep-
ton Of the meaning of the encychcal on
Amercanism, II was believed.
In his letter TO the French prelate the Pope re-
peats the in1unctCns given in an address 10 'ie
French Catholics seven years ago, when ne coun-
seled them TO be faithful 70 the Repuohc anu ~
do nothing looking toward its overthrow. lie aiso
referred to the principles Of democracy a. Iaio
down In the encycical "Rerum Novarum. the
letter on labor. still In force
No excuse will now be left. II is asserted for any
French Catholics or others TO have any doubts as
10 the attitude of the Holy See toward the IN
trigues against the French Repuohc' "hon nave
been carried on under the guise Of the anu-Semiuc
agitation and Dreyfus persecution. Following Is
translation of the letter OF Leo XIII TO the Arch
bishop Of Bourges;
To our venerable brother, Peter Archbishop OF
venerable Brother: Health and the Apostolic
We have learned not without sorrow, that some
Dc rsons have altogether wrongly taken occasion
from certain acts recently promulgated by me
Anostoic See TO declare publicly that we nave
changed opinions as regards that course vi
action the part of French Cathoncs III at
and social matters which We have from the mrs.
DoInted out and have never since ceased 10 lhCui-
cate on every opportunity. We have deplored InIs
the more venerable brother. since II Ienus ~ m
into doubt turbulent spirits, ana TO recall tne!l
from the right way ana II Is cause Oh scaaSi y,
those among you who endeavor In every way "
listen and submit themselves 10 our eNhortdliO
IA taxing the same exhortations for their rule OF
life 10 work for religion and country. -
As for the documents which have recently DeeH
dogma or TO Christian discipline and 90 not touch
in any degree the inJunctions which as We nave
said concern the course or actlon, OF dt.g'l.9
among you, and are clearly cohtalneG III w - -
fer 10 the French Of February, 1897 and IN the
encyclical "Rerum Novarum ,, o,.,r
eTI "a easy TO understand that absolutely nothing
On these iniunctions has been changed, and mat
rather the whole Of them continue win uhoIlnH-
ished force. For II would not become the Wis1oI
of the Holy See TO depart from opinions WIl VIM j.
has adopted after mature conslderatoh anu nos
inculcattd with continued zeal, so that any one
VINO thinks otherwise must oe Gonsigeied 10 i''''c'
rashly no small injury on the Holy see - .A,t
These iniunctons venerable brother, we think
IL right, from toe love We pear your naloi, " IL
clare anew and We again eXhort French Cathohcs
advice and the warning which We have so oiteh
given for the common good, and Whlch we no" us-
Sire repeat even more strohey anu MIr nan
feet accord of thought and action. 10 aliow mem
selves TO be guided moved and united together by
them without delay. - ,-. =.
,,o,, ana 70 your diocese evidence OF our good
will and auspce of divine favor Inc Apos'oic
Benedicticn. - 49,. - .h os,h dov n,
Nav 1899 In the twenty-second year Of our Ponth-
80 low " LEO XIII, Pope.