The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-05-21
RUIN FOR FRANCE
The Government Seems as if
Possessed by a Dem0niacal
Spirit.
The Future is Black and a
Rev olutio is
Predicted.

Writing from Biarritz, France. to the
"London Catholic Times" Father o.
Haire, well-known missionary says:
As I am living witness OF the COM
bat which RACES in France between the
impious government in power and
Christianity, l may claim to be able
to give accurate information about the
conflict on both sides. l shall abstain
from generalities, and simply give you
facts. Many English people know Ar
cachon. 1t is favorite resort OF in
valids. Before the persecution made
a long visit there to the convent OF the
Dominican Fathers, attached to which
one found their admirable novitiatc
and beautiful college. All are now
closed and sealed and the fathers gone
In the same town the Oblates OF Mary
Immaculate had charge OF the fine
Church of St. Marie. The young men
of Arcaclon were to be found there
every evening" The fathers had fasci-
mated them: now the fathers are ex-
PEELED; only a few are residing here,
and these in private. houses. One OF
the largest colleges of the Dominicans
at Toulouse, a centre OF education Of
the highest class for the south OF
France, is now closed-seals on the
doors! All gone
The tearing down OF the crucifixes
from the palaces OF justice goes on
with closed doors or at night. But not
without universal shout Of disap-
proval all over France. The govern
ment seems as ii possessed by de-
moniacal spirit and knows not when
to stop. The Frcnce journalist, Navel,
last week wrote an article which has
all apt application. He says: can old
German novel tells story, of which
version is given in poem by Goethe,
OF a house in which an apprentice to
sorcery lived. The house had no
water, so he told broom to become
man and bring some buckets OF
water from the we'll. The broom be-
came a man and brought water in
thousands of buckets, so that the
house was in danger OF inundation
The sorccrcr could not remember the
word to address to the man-broom to
stop. and so the work went OH till the
house fell"
So will, Combes He knows not
how to stop, and brings ruin upon
France. Rascals without particle OF
religion are catching the contagion
and pulling down in the night many
crosses, which marked the corners OF
roads. They fling them into the dit
ches; but on the following days the
most respectable people gather up the
debris and erect the emblem in their
house or garden. 1t reminds one Of
the charming legend of SIS. Praxedes
and Pudcntana in Rome, in the pagan
persecution. gathering together the
bones OF the martyrs which are now
lOliOIcu upon our affairs.
In little commune of Finisterre-
Landevenncc-thcrc is very peculiar
rock, the pinnacle Of which, formed
not by art, but by nature, has three
sides, each presenting different ma
tural aspect. One side shows a monk
in prayer; the second a soldier on
sentry duty; the third dog sitting on
his tail begging bit of sugar from
his master. Quite recently some ruff
fans in, the night smashed two sides,
leaving only the dog Now let us look
at another picture at Saint-Pol-dc-
Leon. The Mayor OF the town, Count
dc Quebrant. having heard that the
crucifix was being pulled down from
the court Of justice. went with two
OF his clerks. i'll robes OF state, and
took the sacred emblem and carried
it in triumph through the streets to
the Town Hall. followed by an enor-
nous crowd singing humns. 1t re-
minded people OF St. Joseph OF Ar
imathea receiving the body of Jesus
from the Cross from the hypocritical
PLATE. The last week saw the resig-
nation OF the Mayor of Nantes, who
in giving up his office, which he had
held for forty-six years, wrote thus:
81 have worked under Louis Philippe,
under the Republic OF '4S, under the
Empire and now under this Republic,
but this is the greatest tyranny of any
regime have ever seem" On last
Tuesday, the crucifx having been tax
en- away from the tribunaloat Lodcvc
M. Pierre Martin. the magistrate
sent in his resignation at once, with
an expression OF profound disgust.
These few facts, which l take from
a mountain-pile OF reports before me
will serve to illustrate the state o
France. once the glory OF the worlt
and OF the Church. but now. alas
ruled-or rather ruincd-by tigers ant
scorpions in human form. who hav,
no other desire than to turn Franc,
into modern Colosseum. Som,
weak-minded people, filled with terror
think that it would be better for tn
Bishops to say nothing lest the storm
should increase. But, thanks to God