Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-05
AND ROME
MAY BREAK BONDS

Special Cablegram TO Inc Star
ROME. November 1.-The alarming news
of a proximate rupture between Spain and
the holy see has recently been bruited
abroad to all the winds of heaven on the
wings of the telegraph.
Now Count Boni de Castellane, deputy
of the lower Alps, declares that all this
story of complications between Spain and
the vatican is striking example of In
ternational bluff" The French govern
ment, he says had in 1904 judged 1t advan-
tageous to break off all relations with
Rome. The proceeding followed in these
circumstances was qualified as historic
falsehood" by an eminent republican. and
he had good right to know. THE mop
portuneness of the rupture" says the Wis.,
count de Castellane. even for the ends
which a minister inimical to the church
proposed to himself, is indeed fully demon
strated by the separation law, since 1t is
the previous rupture with the holy see
which prevents this law from entering on
It's course"
The French government having commit
ted itself to such a course. is endeavoring,
1t is claimed, to have 1t believed by the
whole world that it is not alone that is in
conflict with Rome; that all the other
Catholic countries have differences with
the head Of the church and grievances
against him; that even Spain, a nation
Catholic above all else. feels the necessity,
since the arrival of the liberals to power,
Of shaking off the intolerable yoke of the
religious power and of defending them
selves from its intrusions In the domain
Of the civil power. And at the head OF this
strange enterprise they have not hesftated
to place the young king. under whose pro-
lection the new ministers should develop
the movement of emancipating. as they
pretend, the Spanish conscience.
The Viscount Castellane says 1t would
be interesting to know does the Spanish
government regard these wild stories as SO
much in keeping with the conduct or
French ministers that 1t Is scarcely worth
while attempting to note their abundant
falsehoods?
The virtuous and respectable Reuters
agency gave worldwide circulation to the
French report-that King Alfonso had
signed a decree giving full authority for
the institution of civil marriage. The Wis.,
count Castellane declares such decree
has never existed"
It was added besides that, outside of the
question Of civil marriage, the government
had to preoccupy itself with the reform
of the Concordat. Now it is precisely the
liberals who did not wish to touch the
Concordat. Such are two out of several
specimens of French inventiveness con-
corning Spain.
An interesting piece Of news comes from
Avignon The palace Of the popes. in which
French troops have been quartered for
more than century. has at last been
evacuated, barracks having been con-
structed near the town for the soldiers;
so this historic edifce will now be restored
in manner BETTING its past. and will
henceforth be kept with due care and at
tention. This excellent arrangement is to
be attributed to the energy of the local
municipal authorities who, aided by q
goodly subvention from the French govern
ment, undertook the building Of the "ca-
serne." which has had the effect of re-
moving the stain. After having served as
the residence of several popes, or of their
legates the palace had been converted into
barracks when the first revolution broke
out. Later on 1t was used as prison,
this state of things lasting until 1871, when
troops were once more located within its
walls. 1t is rather curious coincidence
that honor should again be paid to struc-
ture which was begun In 1884, during the
pontificate Of Pope Benedict Kill so soon
after the breach between the French gov
eminent and the vatican. This is, of course,
a pure coincidence, but there Is the fact
nevertheless.
The victory of the "integralists' at the
socialist congress was spoiled for them
by the adhesion of the ''reformist" sec
ton. At the last moment the latter
nounced that they would throw in their
lot with the .'integralists" and vote for
their program an announcement received
by Signor Enrico Ferri and his friends
with barely concealed dismay. The party
of irreconcilables under Signor Labriola,
who, under the name of ''sndacalists, pro-
TESS rigid adherence to the Marx doctrines,
were easily defeated. recording only some
5000 votes against nearly 1900. But the
victory does not belong to Slgnor Ferr
since the reformfsts and the integralists
share in it alike. and the leadership and
direction of the party can be as fairly
claimed by Signor Bissolat or Signor Turati
as by the integra1ist chief. The congress
has not settled either that question the
question Of future policy. The intsSralist