The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-24
DISTURBANCES GROWING OUT OF
ENFORCEMENT OF AssocIA-
TIoNs LAW RESUMED
PoPULAcE RESIST THE
CLOSING OF A NUNS SCHOOL
Rioters Too Powerful for the GEN
darmes, Who Are Obliged to Secure
Reinforcements-Large Number of
Minor Outbreaks, but None Are So
Very Serious in Nature.


occurred today as sequel to yester-
days clerical outbreaks as protests
against the government enforcement of
law against unauthorized congrega-
tions. 1t now appears that 500 persons
were arrested and numerous prosecu-
tions are pending, though the majority
Of the prisoners are released. Fresh
meetings to protest in favor of the
religious orders were held today, while
the radical and social papers are urg-
ing the Republicans to meet at the
Pantheon as counter demonstration.
A serious disturbance occurred at
1890 o'clock this evening on the ter
race at the Cafe de Musee de Cluny.
The police cleared the cafe. Several
persons were injured and twenty-five
arrests were made.
Some disorderly meetings of Catho-
lies were held during the evening, re-
sulting in scuffies and arrests.
Counter Cries,
A few trif1ing collisions occurred be-
tween the clericals and counter demon
strators, who replied to the clericals'
cries, Long live the good sisters!" and
"Vive lie liberte!" with Down with the
priests!" and Long live the republic!"
A Nationalist member of the chamber
of deputies was arrested while trying
to force his way through the police
GORDON, but was subsequently released.
Ant1-clerical meetings in the Latin
quarter this evening led to some eff
terVeScence, but no noteworthy disOr-
der. A few students, followed by
crowd composed Of the rougher ele-
ment, marched up and down the Boule-
ward st. Michael till a late hour, chant
q foti n1-in
Down with the priests and the pope!"
but these fled at the sight of the
mounted guards and patrols
Ihe greatest excitement in the prov
1nces is displayed in the clerical
stronghold of Brittany, where the
peasants have gathered in front of the
nuns schools in several places and de-
expelled.
In Defense of Nuns.
For instance, at Landerneau, a
crowd of farmers have mounted guards
before the school of White Sisters,
awaiting the arrival of the police.
The inhabitants OF = the village Of
Ploudaniel, who are guarding the sis
ters' school, seized a lay schoolmaster
and thrashed him with nettles.
l. AT La Bresse, department of Vosges,
the commissary of police, accompanied
by gendarmes, thrice tried to approach
the Congregationist school in order to
effect its closure, but was obliged to
abandon the attempt because of the
threatening attitude Of the popula-
ton.
AT ST. Ambroix, near Mines. the
demonstrators detached the horses
from the carriages which were convey
ing the sisters to the railway station
and dragged the vehicles, with their
occupants, back to the convent, shout
ing, Down with the tyrantsi" The
gendarmes were powerless to prevent
the demonstrators from carrying out
their plans and reinforcements had to
be summoned
Support for the Government.
Against these and similar incidents.
however, must be set off the addresses
In support of the government voted by
many municipal councils.
While considerable sympathy is felt
with the sisters personally, Prime
Minister Combes undoubtedly feels
that he is supported by the mass Of
the country, and is not likely to recede
from the position he has taken up. The
trouble is caused mainly by the am
biguity of the wording of the law of
associations, which has led branches
of the congregations, such as the
schools now closed, to suppose that
their position was legalized by the re-
quest for authorization made by head
quarters. This was even the interpre-
tation of the matter accepted by M
w Waldeck-Rousseau the former pre-
mier, but Prime Minister Combes takes
q, contrary view
The Temps takes M. Combes severe
ly to task. The establishments now
closed, says the Temps, appear to have
been drawn into trap and the paper
points out that there are not enough
lay schools to receive all the children
turned into the streets, and that, pri-
mary instruction being, obligatory, the
government should have provided ac-
commodation in the official schools.
Twenty thousand children in Paris
alone will need schools. The Temps
asks what the government intends to
do and adds:
'If it allows the schools to ask for
and to reopen in the au-
tumn, it was not worth while to take
the trouble to close them with such
great noise"