New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-16
LEO XIII AND BASTILE DAY.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE POPES RECENT
DISPENSATION.

Gable dispatches from Europe early last week
Informed all those whom II might interest that
a "dspensaton' had been granted by the
Church to citizens of the French Republic, In
virtue of which "dispensation" all such citizens
might lawfully eat flesh meat on Friday, July
ID, 1899 Although the Cardinal Archbishop OF
Paris was the actual dispenser. the favor couid
not have been shown without the consent or
Leo XIII. This may have seemed small thing
to most people who are neither Catholics nor
citizens Of the French Republic, but to those
who are familiar with the traditional attitude
of the Catholic mind toward the French Revoiu-
ton the news may well have been startling
1t was on the nth of July. 1879, that the
mob of Paris stormed and RACED the Bastie.
That memorable act fairly inaugurated the
Revolution. The French Republic OF to-day Gel
ebrates the event It's Declaration OF lndc-
pendence, but the Legitimists of France nave
taught :heir children to regard it as the ami
yersary OF a hideous carnival not only Of secu-
lar rebellion but also OF spiritual revolt against
God There can be no doubt that the men VINO
led the assault on the Baste were, to say the
least seriously inclined to atheism. The news
from Paris last week therefore, almost seemed
TO suggest that Leo XIII had mounted the
.rbonnet rouge" atop OF the Papal tiara. on this
account il seemed worth while to hear what
might be the comments OF two representative
Catholic priests in New-York City.
One of the two asked to give their views to
The Tribune was Father Wynne, the able jesuit
Editor of THE Messenger Of the Sacred Heart
"If the case is as the dispatches report he
said-the interview was given last Monday-'it
is only the elimination Of what the Pope began
40 long ago as 1887. In that year Cardinal
Iaviyerie Archbishop OF Algiers, on returning
to France after a visit to the Holy See made a
sreech in which he plainly indicated the tut
IRE policy of Rome toward French polltlcaI
norties Ever since then il has been the de-
clared intention OF the Pope that the Church
shall not be monopolized by any one political
party in France"
But does not this dispensation which is SO
rarely granted. seem to condone the anti-re-
ligious spirit OF the men who took the Bastlie'
and Of the whole movement asked
"No 4 dispensation allowing any part OF the
faithful 10 eat flesh meat on a Friday is rare,
IL is true It is general to all the faithful only
when Christmas Day falls on a Friday. But
this case of the Bastile celebration is as IL IL
wore granted to Americans who might wish to
celebrate Independence Day with banquets. As
q matter Of fact We do not celebrate the Fourth
cf .Julv that way. so that such a dispensation
for American Catholics would hardly be just-
fed But when the 18th OF March St Patric&s
Iay. falls on a Friday irish Catholics who wish
to hold banquets easily dspensations
from abstinence. The dispensaton has never
Teen made general for Ireland. because the
Irish ds a people have wholesome horror OF
tasting flesh meat on any Friday.
.rT,
In regard to the French celebration, you
must remember that all the individuals who
take part in a movement are not necessarily
answerable for the motives of their leaders.
The cry at the taking Of the Bastile was Lib
erty'; many of those who formed the mob. per-
haps most Of theri may well have been think
ing only Of civil liberty, not at all of pulling
down religion, and may have believed they
were doing right. If the Pope has counte-
nanced the celebration. the dispatches imply.
II is to allow Catholic Frenchmen to join with
out restriction in the festivity, which is in
tended at least 10y most OF their fellow citizens
to honor the beginning OF their Government as
II now exists"
But would you say that this step on the
part of the Church obliges Legtimists who are
good Catholics to join in with the Kepubli-
cans
"Oh not at all. They may keep to their own
political views. 1t only shows that they must
not expect to exclude Frenchmen who are not
Legitmists from communion with and obedi-
ence to the Holy See"
The Rev. William Smith. OF the Church Of
St Vincent d. Paul, West Twenty thrd-st,
was next approached This church
founded half a century ago through the efforts
OF French Bishop for French residents in
New-York: large number of its congregation
are Of French origin, and there is a French ser
mon there cvery SUNDAY. Father Smith is well