The Saint Paul globe., 1903-09-15
BRITTANY LOUDLY Kisses
PREMIER COMBES
Police Call on Soldiers to Assist in Re-
straininq Outbreak.


PARIS, Sept. 14.-On the occasion of
the unveiling of memorial to Ernest
Renan, the historian and orientalist.
at his native town of Traguier, Brit
tany, some demonstrations were
made against Premier Combes in the
villages through which his carriage
passed on the way to Traguier from
Portrieux. Kisses and shouts of "a baS
Combes" and 'vive la liberte" were
raised by the peasants.
At the ceremony, at which speeches
were delivered by the author, Anatole
France and others, Premier CombeS, in
expressing his thanks for the excellent
reception given him at the function,
said:
81 heard a few hisses., Let me Com
pare them to the melodies played on
the flute behind the conquerors', char
lot in olden times to remind them that,
raised by the people, they must govern
by the people" 500 '0"s-
During the delivery of the speeches
the antagonists of Premier Combes be-
came so threatening, trying to force
the barrier and shouting denunciauons
of the mayor of Traguier, that the po-
lice and authorities, being unable to
restore order, detachment of troops
was ordered out.
The soldiers forced the hostile crowd
back and restored quiet.
The premier was accompanied by
Senator Chaumie, minister of public
instruction, who delivered an eulogy
on Renan many republican deputies
for Britanny and other personages. The
memorial took the form of a bronze
statue, representing Renan seated in a
characteristic attitude, while behind
stands a gilded figure of Minerva hold
ing up a sprig of laurel. Among the
decorations around the statute were
ornamental notices, inscribed "ViVe
Renan," Long Live Free Thought"
ETC., which particularly incensed Cath
olics. The latter arranged for an ex-
piatory service in Treguier cathedral,
to take place at the same hour as the
unveiling of the statue, with the parti-
cipation of Able Gayraud and other
clerical deputies.
The Clerical party has thoroughly or
ganized their demonstration and the
peasants from the surrounding villages
assembled at Treguier armed with cud-
gels, accompanied by their women folk.
clad in the picturesque costumes of
Brittany. Some of the bands were
headed by the parish priests. The Re-
publican villagers also gathered at Ire
guier and along the route taken by the
premier and the two hostile parties
raised cries and counter cries. Dur
ing the ceremony of the unveiling the
NleIlCdlS ulu lQSlE peSl 10 QTOWn the
voices of the speakers with shouts of
Down with Renan,'' Down with
Combes," to which the Republicans re-
piled with equally noisy vociferations.
The presence of a strong force of
troops prevented a free fight between
the rival factions. Another demon
tration took place when Premier
Combes visited the house in which Re
nan was born, and during the disorder
Baroness Kerpodson was hustled by
the crowd. An anti Clerical, who drew
his revolver, was arrested, while the
husband of the baroness was roughly
handled.
A banquet of 1000 Blues" as the
Republicans are called in Brittany, fol-
lowed the unveiling exercises, at which
Premier ConIbes, in the course of long
speech, predicted that the time was not
distant when the peasants of Brittany
would shake of the yoke of the clergy.
He defended the policy fthe govern
ment, saying he had only to replace the
history of the last few months in order
to demonstrate that the clergy had per-
sistently violated the law, supported
the unauthorized congregations in their
rebellion against the civil authority
and stirred UP the population to a re-
ligiouS war.