The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-02
Only Two Dared to Brave Anti
Clericals by Attending Serv-
ices Al Notre Dame.
POLICE PREVENTED A RIOT.
Ridiculous situation in Catholic
France Which Prevents Fit
ting Observance in Capital
of Pontiir's Death.
BY ]. CORNELY.

SPECIAL. RY CABLE To THE NEW YORK
HERALD AND TIE ST LOUIS REPUBLIC
Paris. Aug. l.-tCopyright. 1aNSl-It is no,
without a small amount of humiliation tina,
French writer IS forced to confess to
strangers that The chief political event OF
the last week was the discussion as Ia
whether or not the Ministers should attend
the funeral service celebrated at Notre
Dame in honor OF Leo Nil.
Everywhere. in Paris as in other cities.
the reports OF al the Protestant, schis-
matte or even pagan powers considered 1t
their duty to assist at Ike ceremonies.
From this may conclude that all the
peoples OF the earth officially united In this
mourning
II seems strange that the French Govern
mcnt should be the only exception. Not
only does II consider the Pope as a soyer-
eisn. but the Amba ssador of the Pope. the
papa nunco. ranks the dean of the
diplomatic CORPS. But We are burdened by
our nn;i-Cler!cals. who are only topsy-turvy
clcrcals and who seem TO think II incum-
bent upon themselves 10 revive all the pre-
rious errors of the latter party.
MINISTER'S 1NTIMIDATED.
In former times the Clericals absolutely
refused Official honors TO those who died
outside the pa'c Of the church. To-day the
anti-Clericals refuse similar honrs TO those
who die in the sanctity Of the church. The
most rab'd among them form group about
the PAPER called LAction. whose editor Is
a renegade ca holic priest. the former Ahhc
Charbonnel. They threatened 10 hiss the
Ministers II they went 10 tho funeral ;'erv.
Zee held by the Archbishop If Paris at
Notre Dame
knowing that they kept their word. hav-
Ing already melted riots Al the ''fete de
Dieu'' procession. some were intimidated by
Their threats. ard many of the Ministers re-
mained away.
Some. like NJ. Combes. did not even send
n representative: others. Ike NJ. Chaunne.
sent their secretaries in their stead. Only
two were present. NJ. Del Case. Minister
of Foreign Affairs who could not allow the
diplomatic corps 10 figure alone at the cere-
mony. and General Andre. who was In full
uniform. and wore that day for the first
time his new cross OF commander of the
Legion Of Horror.
Precautions wcrc taken 20 AVOID any up
rising by having sufficient force Ct polio"
present. Nevertheless. General Andre was
Kissed by n few individuals. who We're in
SANITY arrested Since that day the Clcrcals
have rot ceased calling General Andre a
tipplor while tho anti-Clericals treat him
es n ridiculous popinjay. HIS only rartisans
nre the unfortunately small minority OF
sensible people.
All Of which dors not alter the fact that
NJ. Del Case ard General Andre did n
brave deed
RIDICULOUS SITUATION.
II IL also true that the situation is rldicu-
lots. which qualities attendance nj the
Pope's funeral service as an act of heroism
when n few days before everybody thought
Il perfectly proper that the Government
should be represented Mt tho mass cee
bratcd In memory OF King Alexander and
Queen Draga.
Tho primary elections continue 10 show
the trend of popular feeling ard still the re-
Pction has not vet set In that were
threatened as punishment for the cXpuI- |
sicns Of the religious congregations.
This week also saw the dawn OF n univer- |
eity reform. The principal speech during l
the distribution Of prizes at the concourse
general OF the Sorhonne was made by n
professor of Engl sh. and this was not done |
as a tribute In honor OF the newly cstab- |
lished cordial relations between England |
and France IT was because of new tend |
ency In the university which favors living |
languages In preference to the dead Ian
guages The Latin thesis ia no longer obIiga- |
tory in obtaining the degree Of bachelor of |
letters and can be replaced by thesis In a |
living tongue.
We cannot name this tendency whose aim |
Is TO better adapt education to the needs of |
everyday life. For 1t is certain that We |
reed more people capable of writing Eng
sh and German than We do those capable |
of writing IN Latin
Latin culture will still remain the summit |
OF literary education. but this summit
reed not be occupied by n crowd A chosen
few will suffice