The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-27
END OF THE FRENCH REPJBLIC
PREDICTED.
The situation in France From the Extreme
Clerical Point OF View.


To The EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: NJ. Sar-
rien, who on Wednesday read a declaration
Of policy to the French Chamber as Premier
Of France, Is the same gentleman whom The
Sun indicated might be President of the Re-
public If NJ. Fallieres we're not elected on the
first ballot. He was born at Bourbon-Lancy
(Saone-et-Io ire) on October Is. 1870. and took
20 the law as a profess ion, In 1901 he was
Captain of Mobiles, and was first elected a
Deputy in 1879. He has been Mayor of his
native town. Several times he has been a
Minister, but has always played what the
French call IN role GTdcG. To this his success
must chiefly be attributed, for the Third Re-
public is like the First In one respect-it soon
destroys its. prominent men. He claimed
while reading his declaration. in reply to un-
seemly interruption from the Right, that he
was not a Freemason. He is. however, what
is worse. He is their convenient tool; and
hence II comes that they put him forward as
Premier, as they would have put him forward
as President had NJ. Fallihres failed. Nomi-
nally only Is he Premier. the real master OF
the Cabinet is NJ. ClemenceaI, who has gained
a great reputation by being the most success
fully destructive man in France. NJ. Wal
deck-Rousseau was the only man in recent
French politics who cared not a snap OF the
fingers for NJ. Clemenceau, and NJ. Clemenceau
knew il and kept quiet. But when he did SO
he gave his real character away and showed
that he was far from being the strong man
he had got himself TO be painted. He ia now
for the first time in his life in the open and he
must take the responsibility OF his actions.
Where a man OF a similar type. Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain. led England. NJ. Clemenceau
will probably lead France, unless a vote in
the Chamber quickly disposes of him and re-
turns him to obscurity. After his numerous
declarations against the Church and his de-
nunciGtions of erman he is. unless he be-
lies. himself. bound to Dlrsllp n bold nOlipv
against both, Germany. With Englend,s
doomed TO absolute and utter failure before
that impalpable force known as the Church
Signs are no longer wanting that. as was
cabled to THF Sun the day the Rouvier Min
istry fell. France is on the brink Of civil and
La, Chapelle-Janson, when the population
Eel, upon. an, army service corps and COM
Indication &c Of the temper Of Brittany SWS1 hsea
the Government cttempts, to carry out the
inventory at St: Anne d'Aurayc-She most
will oppose force to force. There is also
plenty of evidence that the military are not
to be relied on in CARRYING out the anti-clerical
~campaign-daily reports come in that officers
prefer the ruin Of their career to ordering their
men to violate the sanctuaries OF their faith.
mass of the people symbathize with the re-
caleitTant officers and with the Church. The
government represents only a minority of
at election times. Joined to the 6razen efrront-
cry OF official methods in SECURING ,majorlties
In many constituencies. The, voice OF the
people was not taken over the Separation
law, and that Is one reason, why the Govern
ment desires. to confront the nation with a
tait qccompli before the general election.
For this reason the date OF the general cleo
ton. originally fixed by the Rouvier Cabinet
for April Q, has been postponed to May
II. The intervening weeks win be Of interest,
a considerable scale. Much viii depend.
however, on the action. of the Pope. Were
he, TO order, the faithful-.a most unlikely
worship associations created by the Separae
ton law. then peace might prevail: but il
would be a peace gained at the cost OF prin-
ciple.
A political Pope like Leo XIII. might DOS
s!bly have taken this course: but it seems in
the highest, degree improbable with a relig-
s lSs' Of ao Pete like h fSs dRsSSstdnt i 0 sf,sp nl Of s1m the
the present case, Men Of faith have always
pIeferred death to apeostasy, and France Is
Government hurriedly. unthlnkingiy and
without warrant from the country flung
down its glove. and it behooves the Pope and
The strife will be a bitter and cruel one.
and the pity is that the republic itself may
be the sufferer for the fault OF men who lacked
Of others belief. Nothing is 10 be hoped from
the Right, who. nomlnally Catholic, are at
heart more Royalist or Bonspsrtist than
Catholic. Religion is with them o mere pawn
in the game. The one mar who nay save
the country is NJ. RIbot, who without beine
adeyout Catholic is a sound republican devoid
OF the anti.religious spirit Of the Left,
Meanwhile France has small Chance Of
carrying through her designs on Morocco
for the internal cond ition OF the country Is
K K%I. FP SSve only al s to hold The PbS Sps. and and tie
French Republic will fall TO pieces Of itse,t"
PARIS, March 10. V'C' Z