The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-12
CHURCH And STATE In FRANCE
INTERNATIONAL FORCES AT
uORk TO SEPARATE THEM.

p5ug. Feb 2s.-If ever the separation
between Church and State in France be-
comes m accomplished fact it will mark
II serious date in the history Of France
and Of Europe 1t will be moro than revolu-
tion It will 20 an epoch. 1t ia enough to
watch those laboring for the breach at
work 20 be sure Of this.
In the front rank are working the powers
wn.ch in the hate ooncaye fought against
Cariinal Rampolla and the French party.
The attack is the same because the object
is tho same namely. TO take the place at
Rome II the republic and to seize on the
trinmphal spells Of France in the Orient
end throughout the world, above all the
rrotectorate. the disappearance Of which
will favor some day tho settlement of
Eastern affairs in a manner opposed to
French interests The same nnti-republican
and ant-French factions" which about
the Vatican and during the corclave at
tackled openly the eralliement" and the
encyclica -Rerum Novarum" because they
created democratic atmosphere generally
in favor Of France are joining forces now
and endeavoring to hasten the separation.
In addition to the break with Rome and
the loss of French privileges it will lot
loose disorder within and bring about
the loss Of precious influences without.
What adds 10 these "immeqsurable'
elements is the appearance on the scene
Of a new pnrtythe specifically Italian party.
This which IS very powerful hopes 10 build
rp3n the ruins Of Coucordnt and the former
allan-e between France and Rome recon
citation Of the Quirinal with the Vatican
with the avowed object Of substituting Italy
l. 4 = IL. I .
races Bismarck used 20 warm up Signor
Crsp with tho mag of that dream. Will
helm ii keeps up the Iron Chancellor's
charm The reasoning is as follows; If
the republic breaks with Rome and the
Church Catholicism in France will pass
through crisis which will deprive the Holy
SEQ and the budget Of the general Catholic
world Of a large portion of its resources.
In this distress, besides the diplomatic mu-
tla,ion Of the Holy See. the Pope will be
morally. politically and financially obliged
TO accept the law Of guarantees and the
financial endowment II the Quirinal. The
music Of figures will overpower the music
81 IDEAS.
That is why, in spite Of Plus Ks persist
emily friendly attitude toward France It
has been possible to say that at Rome the
separation was wished for, owing to the
frenzed general movement provoked by
the party that is practically opposed to the
interests Of France in the game OF this
world For, j, must be said positively,
Plus x keeps declaring to the French
Bishops that his intentions are to abide
Loyalty and strictly by the Concordat. by
means Of which the republic, without
giving anything up might maintain the
frui full 10 .;.I -.
Zee. Recently he said TO friend Of mine
Whatever the Government at Paris may
be, shall treat gladly with il. providing il
l. eincere To Mgr. Touchet. Bshon Of
Orleans. he condded this: Non Goitlr de
re peeuTfdri1. non agitur dc re- cons,iutionale
non dgnu de re guberndiiru: nobis aiin
tn patent. dgitur dc re Chrisfana. at X
not question Of finance, nor OF consti-
tutionali,y nor Of administration: we are
looking in another direction 1t Is question
Of the welfare Of Christianity
side by side with these factions Eng
'ish, German, Italian. Austro- Hungarian,
certain monks are at work. They differ in
their ideals. In their eyes separation of
State and Church offers the way again for
their activity; 10 long as the C1ncordat lasts
their action Is checked, confined, pa rtial
II the agreement is broken. with the funds
AZ their command they would have a pre-
ponderanoe all the greater because they
would have escaped the destitution and
the administrative difficulties Of the secular
clergy.
Back Of the congregations the Orleansts
and lmperialists are at work, the latter less
active because Prince Victor Bonaparte
holds strictly TO tho Concordat. To the
lFetenders and their helpers 1t seems that
the separation. letting loose n religious |
war must expose the republic to the gravest
CANCERS The separation. following the
course Of concrete situations must bring on /
tne huhurkdmpf. for the unavoidahly !
Tree action OF the parish priests would bring |
INTO being permanently increasing sue I
oession OF police regulations now the clergy |
Is growing more and more impatient The |
last campaign has deeply afflicted the parish |
pnesis They feel that they have been put |
mo ridiculous position, that they have
been betrayed and have lost consideration
Just now they are in a state OF mind that
leads Us to expect an immediate explosion,
They will resist.
Every municipality will turn into Palais
bourbon Family hatreds will be added
n political PASSIONS This civil war-and
The revolutions in France show with what
energy Frenchmen engage in civil war
Ms clvil war, say. will soon be followed
Nv general weariness, and the inevitable
WEAKNESS Of the people leads in France,
usually 10 a change Of government.
hero Is philosophical ground for this
conjecture. ! have seen three Ruhur-
ssnmp'in Switzerland, in Prussia and In
Haly Religious war has an inevitable.
immediate corollary, lasstude. Lassi-
'ude has forced governments to break laws
tnd 10 journey to Canossa.
such IN brief are the cooperating forces.
me apHiiaries OF the sophists and pseudo
philosophers Of the republic who on their
PaH are aiming at other ends. On this
ground as on 20 many others. the fact that
,he'r interests converge teaches a deep
H'son Of patriotism 10 Frenchmen.
lNSoMNAro.