The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-14
.COMBES KISSED
 BY PEASANT UnVeiIIng Statue to Renan Ex-
 cites Breton Factions TROOPS QUELL DISORDER 
clericaIs and sympathlzers Are h. censed at Notices Around Statue and Cry Down With combes,"
 Down With Renan."

Paris; September 13-On the occasion of the unveiling of a memorial to Ernest Renan, the historian and orentalist, at his native town of Traguir, Brittany, to- day, some demonstrations were made against Premier Combes in the villages through which his carriage passed on the way to Traguir from Protrieux. 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: T heard a few misses. Let me compare them to the melodies played on the flute behind the conquerer's chariot In olden times to remind them that raised by the people, they must be governed by the people"
 During the delivery of the speeches, tho antagonists of Premier Combes became so threatening, trying to force the barrier and shouting denunciations of the mayor of Traguir, that a detachment of troops was ordered out.
 Notices Incense.
 The premier was accompanied by Sena- tor Chaumie, minister of public instruc- tion, who delivered an eulogy on Renan, many republican deputies for Brittany and other personages. The memorial took the form of a bronze statue representing Renan seated in a chair, characteristic attitude, while behind stands a gilded fig ure of Minerva holding up a sprig of laurel. Among the decorations around the statue were ornamental notices in- scribed: 'Vive Renan," and Long live free thought" which particularly incensed the Catholics The latter arranged for an expiatory service in Tregier cathedral to take place at the same hour of the un- yelling of th st3s1 with tie participa- ton of Abbe Gayraud and other clerical deputies.
 The clerical party had thoroughly or ganized their demonstration and the peas ants from the surrounding villages as- sembled at Tregier armed with cudgels, accompanied by their women folk clad in the picturesque costumes of Brittany. Some of the bands were headed by the parish priests. During the ceremony of the unveiling the clericals did their best to drown the voices of the speakers with shouts of Down with Renan." ''Down with Combes," etc, to which the republi- cans replied with equally noisy vocifera- tions.
 Troops Prevent Fight.
 The presence of strong force of troops prevented a free fight between the rival factions. Another demonstration and counter demonstration took place when Premier Combes visited the house in which Renan was born, and during the disorder Baroness Kerpodson was hustled by the crowd. An anti-clerical who drew his revolver was arrested, while the hus- band of the baroness was roughly handled.
 A banquet of 2000 Blues" as the repub- licans are called in Brittany followed the unVeiling exercises, at which Premier Combes, in the course of a long speech, predicted that the time was not distant when the peasants of Brittany would shake off the yoke of clergy. He defend ed the policy of the government. saying he had only to recount the history of the last few months in order to demonstrate that the clergy had perslstently violated the law, supported the unauthorized con- gregations in their rebellion against the civil authority and stirred up the popu- laton to a religious war