Arizona republican., 1904-05-29
PHoENIX. ARIZONA, MAY 2s. 1sC
France and the Concordat.

Combes in the French chamber of dep
 uties on Friiay signified far more than
 the stability of the present cabinet. It
 marked a radical turning point in the
 relations between the French govern
 ment and the Roman Catholic church.
 By a series of steps bolder, in some re-
 spects, than anything attempted by
 Napoleon in his relations with the
 church, the Combes government has
 thrown down the gauntlet to the vati-
 caa. Last year, all state support was
 withdrawn from the Catholic schools.
 and the monastic orders and
 Convents were forbidden to teach.
 4 few days ago, the French
 ambassador to the vatican was
 recalled. to te followed. as set forth
 ia our telegra ph columns yesterday, by
 tks formal approval of the govern
 Eent's action by the peoples repre-
 Esntatives The friends of the church
 made direct issue of the question, and
 had they succeeded in lining up a ma
 SaEity of the chamber in disapproval of
 che recall of the ambassador, Premier
 COmbes and the entire cabinet would
 have been thrown out of office. h.
 stead, the government gained a tre-
 mendous victory, the vote being 427 to p5.
 The result amounted to much more than granting a new lease of life to the present administration. When Pres ident Loubet called upon the "obscure country doctor" M. Combes, to succeed the brilliant M. Waldeck-Rousseau and to form a new cabinet, the handiwork sf A. Combes was considered a stop zap aaair-one of the many transitory coalitions so frequently formed to car g the republic through crisis. The speedy downfall of the Combes cabi- get Eax predicted. But Combes faced q situation which had affrighted Wal SsCk-Rousseau and his predecessors ssA caused them to stay their hands. CDmbes determined to assert the su- BsHmscy of the state in all affairs in WAIeh the church was interested. The nEInsgous votes of confidence which he has received apparently indicate that lhe Fspublic is on a firmer foundation @BSs shan at any time in the past.
 Eas really crucial test is yet to come, AaWsyer. Both Premier Combes and Fpseign Minister Delcasse clearly in d&ssfed the purpose of the government | ta ask the chamber to abolish the Con- ssF$at at the earliest practicable mo met.s- The socialists insisted upon an | tfTansAiate severance of all relations | wish the church. but the government | voted down the radical motions and in- formed the chamber that schemes for | eaa&n5 the concordat were under con- alteration in committed" and would be t2ia before the deputies in January asSt. Thus, formal notice of the gov- e5Rment's intention is given to the vatican. and the greatest test of the republics strength will come in the period which is to elaDse before the final step is undertaken.
 Should the papal government decide to align itself on the side of the oppo> Ition made up of Orleanists. Bonapart- ists and miscellaneous reactionaries against the republic. there would be seen for the first time in recent years an actual determination of the loyalty Of the French masses to the republican form. Apparently, NJ. Combes, Presi- dent Loubet and Nj. Delcasse consider that they occupy an impregnable posi- tion.
 But they cannot lose sight of the fact that. one Of the greatest bulwarks of the republic has been the Catholic church. In its attitude toward French politics the vatican for a generation has pursued brOad-mindcd. states manlike course. Although urged by the aFistocTaey Of the old regime to favor the cause of the monarchists. Pope Leo XIII and Cardinal Rampol- la. his secretary of state, steadfastly volve France in civil war While de- precating at all times the tendency of the French government to restrict the of the church, Leo XIII counselled patience and moderation oD the part of dissatisfied Catholics. In- deed. this very friendship for the re- public lost the throne of St. Peter to F. Cardinal RampOlla. The fact is now admitted that in the sacred conclave Of last August. Cardinal Rampolla re- ceived more than enough votes to elect him pope. and only the veto interposed by the cardinals from Spain and Aus iria under the special privileges ac- corded them. prevented Rampolla from ascending the papal throne
 Pope Plus x had taken a non-com- initial position until the visit of Pres Ident Loubet to the king of Italy,