The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-11


give us trained officers to take command
of all our torpedo vessels in case of need.
Is the Concortiat Between France and
the Papacy in Danger?
II recent kilograms are Trustworthy.
complete divorce Of State and
Church in Franco may be regarded az
not far distant. We arc told that the
anti-olerical campaign, the latest move
in which was the enforcement Of the law
against religious associations, is by no
means concluded, but that, on the con-
trary, tho Combes Cabinet has deter
mined to abolish the Concordat, by
which tho relations Of the French Gov
eminent and the Roman Catholic Church
have been regulated for upward Of a
century.
1t is probable that the Ministry headed
by NJ CoMBEs is strong enough to carry
out such q programme. The majority
behind it in the Chamber Of Deputies
is vehemently anti-clerical. and it. con-
troll Of the Senate could hardly be shaken,
unless, indeed, NJ. RoUv1ER should vent
ure to propose an income tax, the rock
on which Premier BOURGEOIS split. 50
far as the Catholic Church is concerned,
it has even fewer friends in the Senate
than in the popular branch Of tho French
Parliament. There is no chance, there
fore, Of the Senate's consenting to dis
solution Of the National Legislature,
even il President lIoUBEr we're inclined
to recommend such step. There is, as
a matter Of fact, no reason to suppose
that NJ. LouBET would oppose the wishes
of the anti-clerical majority in the
Chamber.
There is, then, no ground for doubt
ing that the Combes Ministry can abolish
tho Concordat il IL desires. We cannot
but believe however, that sober second
thought will restrain it from doing so.
1t is scarcely tho part Of far-seeing
craftsmanship to exasperate the whole
body Of French Catholics and to convert
them into implacable enemies OF the
Republican regime. Admitting that
some OF the religious associations that
have been cngag ed in teaching may have
abused their opportunities, and that
some Of the Bishops have upheld them,
we must still recognize that the ma ority
of the French episcopate and the mass
Of tho secular clergy have obeyed the
earnest and oft-repeated injunction OF
LEO XIII, and have refrained from OPP
posing the present political order. The
existence Of the group Of so-oalled Raj
lied Republicans in the Chamber OF
Deputies is a proof Of the sincerity Of the
Pope's wish to maintain friendly rela-
tons with the French Republic. The
avowed Monarohists and Imperialsts,
who once constituted majority Of the
Chamber, have shr,lnk to an insignif-
cant fraction. Most Of those who are
really Reactionists at heart no longer
venture to advocate openly restoration
Of the Bourbon monarchy or Of tho
Napoleonic empire, but profess to aim
merely at a remodelling Of the present
French Constitution on tho pattern OF
that Of the United States, 90 as to clothe
the Presidential Office with moro inde-
pendent authority.
In a word, the republican form Of
government was never, to all appear
ances, 80 firmly established in France as
it is to-day. II, however, the Radicals
are unwilling to let we'll enough alone,
and proceed to abolish the Concordat,
they may seriously weaken the existing
regime in two ways. In the first place,
all the Bishops and all tho secular clergy
will Be transformed into bitter and out
spoken opponents. They will spare no
effort to instil anti-republican senti-
ments in al faithful Catholics, who con-
stitute, IL has boon computed, about one
half Of the electorate. Nine-tenths Of
French women arc Catholics, and they
will necessarily beseoch their husbands,
fathers and brothers to make good by
voluntary contributions the stipends
which, under the Conoordat, have been
paid to the Bishops and the secular
clergy by the civil power. 1t would be
contrary to all experience for French
mon to resist such pressure, but they are
certain to detest the Republican regime
responsible for the burden to which they
will be subjected. Every time French
peasant Is called upon 70 subtract from
his savings tho pittance needed to sup
port his parish priest, he will denounce
the Government as . robber, and clamor
for the restoration Of tho former state Of
things. Tho masters Of tho present
French Republic would scarcely pretend
to regard themselves a. moro powerful
than was the Consulate, yet NAPOLEON.
when First Consul, promptly aeknowl-
edged the necessity Of entering into such
an arrangement with the Vatican as
would devolve tho maintenance of tho
Church upon the State in France. That
agreement, concluded in 1901, has sur
vived all political changes. and it is
probable that. were II now resoinded,
the demand for its renewal would soon
become irresistible.
II the abolition Of the Concordat were
really contemplated by tho Preach Cabi-
net, We may be sure that the attitude Of
LEO XIII. would be passive, not provo