The Irish standard., 1904-07-30
FALSE CONCEPTION Of LIBERTY.

France, Which has during the past
been so much in the van of progress,
is unfortunately now in the lead in an
anti-religion crusade. Somehow in re-
cent years there has grown up
throughout the world among certain
classes of society Il professed disre-
gard for all religion. The extremists
in this movement have become haters
of all revealed religion. Naturally
with this anti Christian campaign
there has developed disrespect for
human law, which is based upon the
divine law. 1t must be remembered
that those who openly profess disre-
spect for religion and law enroll them
selves under some banner advocating
liberty, equality and brotherly love.
They presumptuously announce them
selves as the advance agents of some
UtOpian condition which humanity is
about to enjoy. They appeal to the
ignorant. the irreligious, and the dis
contented members of society. AS
might be expected, such a propagan-
da naturally takes greater root and
faster growth among the volatile
French nation than among other ma
lions. These movements, however, are
not confined to France. The same
tendency exists in our own country
of liberty and opportunity. An ex-
ample of what these movements lead
to was furnished by recent episode
in one of the courts of France. A
hater Of religion named Auguste Bau-
mann, meeting priest in one of the
streets of Paris, fired two shots Mt
him, both of which took effect. When
accused and convicted of attempted as
sassinatiOn, in answer to the question
of the judge, as to what he had to
say in his defense, he shouted: II am
not an Anarchist! l am revolution.
ist-an Independent freeman. l do not
recognize the theories of anybody!
am disciple of nobody! l am my
self.
Society of to-day" he declared,
''has three pivots, the priests. the SOL
diers and the judges. The priests en-
deavor to keep the people in ignorance,
the military suppresses all attempts
Of the people to make themselves free,
and the judges condemn those whom
the bullets have SPARED.
II could see no way of making a
living, except by stealing, which
would not, or by begging, which is
contemplate, so chose to commit sui
eide by guillotinc.
II had nothing against Lebel person.
ally. had never even seen him be-
fore, but l have from my youth hated
priests, soldiers, judges and professors.
II want to commit suicide and if you
sentence me to he guillotined you car
ry out my wish"
The priest. still suffering from his
wounds and so feeble that he nearly
tainted in court, was confronted with
his assailant.
"And you do not regret that you
have crippled for life and nearly
killed him. the Judge asked.
II only regret that l did not kill
him."
You see how he suffers and still
you feel no pity?'
II have never known pity and never
SHALL" Baumann replied.
He was sentenced to Is years. hard
labor.
II this We're an isolated case the
situation would not be so fraught with
danger to society and established gov
eminent. But it is not isolated. Even
in our country there are thousands up.
on thousands who have only n sheer
of reproach for the law and the
church. They are impatient of all re-
straint, and consider every instrument.
tally which society employs to, keep
itself in order as a,wrong and men,