The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-20
LIGHT THROWN ON RECENT RE-
LIGIoUS MOVES IN PARIS.
Present Dissensions Will Soon Blow
Over-The Relations of the Wal
deck-Rousseau Cabinet With Pope
Leo XIII. Are Friendly.
1Naw York Sun. Ian. ID

d Orsay, q courteous contest py - IL
way, as the French government ne
failed TO show moderation toward Lie
Pope; it was, besides and particu uleI al ~ ;
the bringing out of the acute, tnousn
silent and hidden, conflict between the
enemies of the Papal policy and the
adversaries of the Triple Alliance aiq.
ed by the old parties of reaction. 1t
may be imagined with what eaSerlitSS
these rivals endeavored to make caplUal
out of the anti-clerical attacks IN
France.
The Chancellors' office, jealous OIL rhe
Frerch protectorate and the poslUloIl
still held at Rome by the Quai dOrsay,
had passed the word to their parllSdlhS
at Rome to exaggerate incidents 80 as
TO make the irreMgious Dreytuslsln
seem an ecclesiastical Sedan both 1or
the French nation and for the general
policy of the Papacy. If the French
spring snapped, the whole mechanism
of the new Pontificfal policy woufd De
thrown out of gear. To attack the hhe
that France was taking would be at
the same time a serious blow TO demo-
cratic institutions.
That is why Leo XIII, and the de-
voted men who are putting into prac-
tiCe his great designs, trembled at tne
signs that preSaged a StoTm against
the religious forces and positions in
France. Not. that the Holy See feared
a real "Kulturkampf," for it was not
ignorant of the disfavor that has COW
cred all ideas of fighting, in conse-
quence of the repeated acts of the Pope
favoring the external policy of France;
but the war cries, the blunders made,
the alarm given by abortiVe proposed
laws. the force employed against La
Croix, threatened to create at Rome
and throughout the world as well, an
atmosphere refractory to the general
ideas of the present pontificate.
Leo XIII has felt personally the un-
pleasant recoil of this state of things
on the whole body of his policy. So he
has increased the number of his coun-
ellis, he has uttered cries of alarm. AT
one time he thought of promulgating
an encyclical, in which he should re-
capituIate the benefits which he has
steadily showered upon France, and,
in pathetic conclusion, should protest
against any anti-clerical measures.
With the true spirit of abnegation and
a. deep understanding of the French
keyboard, he decided to give up this
rather solemn method of expressing his
feelings, justly fearing that such ac-
ton might have serious consequences.
Moreover, the intelligent apprehension
of the Nuncio, his sure and accurate
lingering, his unWearied and universal
activity, had after the first few days,
deadened the impact of the assault. It
self uneasy, the French government
acted the part both of lightning ard
lightning conductor. The Pope's vigi-
lance however, was not relaxed for a
moment In his talk with authorized
persons, whether French or of other ma
tions, he repeated in a thousand forms
the following declaration: Il am the
head of the Catholic world. My priests
conscience does not allow me to look
on in silence when measures are be-
ing taken against the interest of the
Church. 1t is my duty to speak.
know that my protests may bring on
unpleasant consequences. But duty
above all things: God will provide"
1 have reason to believe that these
warnings, dropped in the right places,
have not failed to produce some i'm
preston.
1t is the Pope. am told, who was the
real victor in the parliamentary fight
of Nov. q, when ait the Palais Bour-
bon speeches and votes demonstrated
the happy results of the Papal policy
and of the intangibility of the embassy
at the Vatican. In the same way the
vote of the French Chamber of Depu-
ties on NJ Ribot's motion to send the
school bill to the grand committee on
education was regarded by those behind
the scenes as the elegant burial of the
government bill; and even more as an
unequivocal sign of the gradual ex-
haustion of anti-clericalism.
The Vatican attaches great import
ance to these facts; they mean, in fact,
not merely peace in France; they mean
the seal of success stamped on the
Papal policy, the guarantee for the fu-
ture without counting the effect they
will have on all the Roman questions.
NJ. Delcasss has received thanks and
congratulations which may console
him, perhaps, for the attacks Of the
press.
In the presence of this self confident
fnmness the French ministry felt that
it must content itself with the meas
uresi of force used against La CToiX
1.-The republic was saved" Could they
not consider that the programme had
been carried out? NJ. Leygues does not
cling beyond reason to this bill. Then
does the cabinet really exist since Nov.
10, and do not dissensions within it
forbode its dissolution? When the
high court has completed its task, shall
we still find the same ministers on the
benches of the chamber? NJ. Waldeck-
Rousseau is tolo shrewd and too inde-
pendent to play the part of Ranc or
a Cr,ispi. On Holy THURSDAY he hap
pened to be in Rome and paid visit
to Cardinal Ranpolia. to whom. of his
own accord and with decision, he made
a declaration Of peace and of mod
crate spirit. He and M. Delcasse have
kept up an excellent understanding
with Mgr. Lorenzelli; they have had
samples of the accuracy of the Nun
clos general information. They have
known and understood that the secur-
Ity of foreign politics is linked to the
r,,I 10 fric 3xyT LOT
Holy See Now under all circumstances
the law of connection and united inter
ests that rules political affairs must ex-
orclise sooner or later it's despotic pow
er over men.
In this succession of incidents there
is a great and fruitful lesson. 1t is
proof that the policy of the Holy Faith
er. in accord with the harmonious to-
tality of Roman ideas, has been
stamped in the die of great works; it
bears the impress of political prophecy.
of the sence of opportunity and of
healing virtue. Therefore, the recent
episodes though they have disturbed
mems minds, and though in other di-
rections they have done France ire
parable harm, have furnished a dem
onstration whose value and Importance
are inestimable. Without the Pope,
without his Intervention and his faith
in the destiny of the Gallo land, new
ruins would be heaped upon her soil
and would sadden the friends of France
at Rome and in the Orient. Thus his
infiexible perseverance, his robust and
superior optimism, his confidence in the
ideas and the future of the French ma
tion, have borne fruit.
At the Vatican credit is given to- the
tact and oexterity shown by Mgr. Lo-
renzelii in the storm. 1T is a radiant
dawn for a nunciature, said a prelate;
and in receiving French person of
Importance Leo XIII praised highly
the qualities of the Nurcio, adding:
"Go and see him; you must work with