The sun., 1903-05-15
state and Church in France.

To TIE EDITOR OF THE SCN-Sir: iohr
interesting article on the Concordat between
France and the Papacy leaves one with 'h"
impre ssion that you do not look FOR the apfo-
gation Of that agreement In the near tutu'e
because IL might wreck the present haoica!
Ministry. Your argument Is sound enough
80 far as it goes, but think you have over
looked the fact that the Government 10 now
in the hands OF the extremists. who are ac-
tuated by an insat bic hatred Of the Church.
10 begin with. and next by an Unsuitable de-
sire for the funds that are now PAID by IN"
State In stipends $50 called to the clergy In
France.
The thing that more than all else brought
about the Associations law was the Legend
that the religious orders were possessed OF
milliard OF francs in property OF all kinds.
Violent as is the Grand Orient in it's hatred
of the Church it WAS the property and moth
ing else that furnished the incentive. Other
Wise the Government would never have trou-
Of Of 80 ooo men and iso 900 women, Now there
is still property in sight. The French Gov
eminent pays large s,m o. IN m9ney 5bs rey ever
stipend. or course, this payment is not IrnlF
n stipend or salary. II represents. at the oss,
n tba %hS
this? say the Socialists. Here Is Nery
substantial sum Of money to be had for ne
would would be ;" whether It could safely be taken,
or whether the prospect Of an increased
S:n on eit mss tss the
partial observer, you take the ground thai
sS, ss and De 9rf ise henoa ps
il Is devoutly to be hoped that you are rlght
But, supposing that you are II may ',.!l .!,sG s1
Sood snd md. are ree .hirsty they
asyet had no evidence that there Is Rlcs
left 10 the French peasant. There has ne'n
noisy protests from well-meanng but some.
what dilatory individual! Is: but the vote'
have been forthcoming for the sntl,erGla, anti, ,ts,
count. Hence. why. should the. Socialist.
fear TO complete their programmei u seem, EN-,
az % ths VIII be-
After which, after which We s,haN
New YORK. Mayl?
To THE EDITOR OF THE SrH sir. Your
editorial on the Concordat. of Monday. sis'
Rests that the Pope can hardly be conr'inS
disaster In refusing, as II is said he intends 10
do. to see NJ. Loubet on the latter's visit TO
the Eternal City. soon to take place.
As an American Catholic, an (lramon'ane'
an Irreconcilahle. say let IFS hope and pray
devoutly that he will. Will NJ. I.oube' go
home and help to abolish the Concorda' lls
a contamination devoutlT to he wished IN"
expenses OF reli zion will then no longer be
borne by the state, or rather the State VIII no'
repay small annual dol, ont Of the very grsA,
wealth of tine Church which was con0s' s'a'""
at the Revolution. Let the clergy, II an
spark Of the fire Of cid still burns in them JOY
His Holiness. II he is indeed tired OF bong
despitefullv used let The body Of Freno1
Catholics. il they would preserve anr 1rae" o'
the esteem of the rest Of the world, answer
the infidel State. THY money perish win
thee. Before YOU were. | was
II anybody supposcs the Concorda' 70 pc
90 essential to the Church in France "a NofI
article makes it, lei him be undeceiv"d u y
but a millstone on her neck Fervenii. a
We hope that the accd Leo will loosen II, snn,
placing 1t under her foot, make Il th"l Nnn
there monument 10 her future frecu3l,
and a warning TO corporations 10 come 'n'.
the Church which survived the assa'iiis ~ r.
sixteenth century will still proceed cflWl,
and essentially unhnrmed. though all 80
powers Of earth should rise MP agnins' ISr
CONSIDERING the assaults she has sIs'aln'I,
says Macaulay, 1t is dificul II to Sc" no" sir
Ia to perish" and she surely will not per-.
In country where nine-ten,hs OF N" woln'l,
and over one-half Of the men-.if thew are
mcn-are Catholics.
4 has 10 Concordat' Nive In Libert"
NEW York, Mayi?. ROBERT I 'NtfN