The Irish standard., 1903-06-06

the demand for authorization of each
religious order be submitted to the
Chambers. NJ. COmbes lust punched
them all in lhrcr cutryories- teach
ing preaching and contemplation
and at the request of the government
they were sent to execution by cart
loads like the victims of the first re-
public In 1888. The last session at
which the Grnllde Chartreuse had the
honor of special hearing was most
disgraccful. The governments major
ity, the left, banged their desks,
stamped their feet and howled to
cover the voice Of a speaker on the
right: what do we care for legality?
We have the majority" were some of
the uttcrances which passed unre-
bukrd. Worst Of all, Nj. Combes pro-
dured and used with much effect a
false document purporting to be sign
cd by the superior of the Chartreuse
urging all to sell out their government
that the authenticity of this docu-
mcnt be established before taking the
vote. M. Combes refused. In private
life we know what epithet would be
applied to his conduct.
If the Chinese and Turkish govern
mcntS were to close all Christian
schools and declare that a whole
category of preachers were to ue
gagged, n naval demonstration would
soon be made by the Powers, MS was
done by France not long since to COM
pei the Porte to recognize certain of
her congregational schools in the
Turkish empire
In 1850 monopoly in education by
the state in the hands of the Univer-
sity of Paris was abolished by the
Loi Falloux, and free competition
lcgnlfZed. 1t was the despot Napoleon
|. who had established this monopoly,
and the revolutionary second Repub.
lie abolished it. Henceforth the lib
crty to teach when qualified and the
right of parents to give their children
teachers of their own choice seemed
to be the inalienable appanage of
France, as of all free nations 1t is
this law which is being violated to.
day, as far as Catholics are concerned.
The goddess system of primary edu-
cation established by the Third Re-
public caused Catholics to establish
their own primary schools at the cost
OF great sacrifices, while establish
ments for secondary education, col
leges, etc, were multiplied by relig-
ious congregations of men and women
to meet the ever-incrcasing demand.
The government schools could not
stand the competition or pay their
way. Hence, the Associations bill
which, as l have said, should have
been labelled can act for the suppress
sion of congregation schools, the sue
cessful rivals of the government
Parents are brutally deprived of the
right to give their children teachers
Of their own choice, and tens Of
thousands of teachers are deprived Of
the right of exercising their profess
sion-this in u land which writes,
Liberty, equality" on all it's monu-
ments; this in spite of the fact that
out Of the 1,GO0 municipal councils Of
France 1000 voted for the congrega-
tions, about 400 against and the rest
abstaining; this in spite of petition
signed by seventy-two bishops and in
Vulnerable petitions and other mani
festations Of public opinion. Moreover
the Concordat, a solemn treaty made
by France with the Holy See, stipu-
latcs for the "free exercise of the
Catholic rcligion.'' mo church is
Free says Guizot, (which is not al
lowed to develop according to it's
spirit and history" And every one
knows that teaching and preaching
congregations have always formed an
integral part of the Catholic Church.
Not satisfied with sweeping away
the teachers and the schools of Catho-
lies and compelling the latter to send
their children to government institu-