The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-11

Premier CIemenceau Warns
Catholic Church of Danger
of Defying the Law.
STRUGGLE BEGINS TODAY
STRENGTH OF THE REPUBLIC
WILL BE TESTED.

Paris. Dec. 10.-The press today una
nimously recognize the extreme gravity
of the religious issue precipitated by
the popes intransigeant attitude. and
many papers, predict a veritable reli-
gious warfare. The governments call
cUlations have clearly been upset. and
new legislative authority may be ne
cessary to enable it to cope with the
situation. 1t having been decided that
after tomorrow religious services may
not be held without preliminary de-
c1aration under the law of 1881, the
p0pe's orders entail the immediate in1-
tiative of prosecutions in $4,000 COM
munes and, logically. the invasion Of
churches by the police for the purpose
of pronouncing their dissolution and ex-
Polling the parish priests. The militant
Catholics seemingly hail with joy the
prospects of violence, which will COM
pei the closing of the churches, with the
attendant excitement of religious pas
sions.
Socialist Opinion.
NJ. Jaurez, the Socialist leader, pro-
fesses to believe that the vatican has
deliberately determined to test the
strength Of the party of reaction in an
effort to overthrow the republic. The
Socialist organs generally. however, re-
gard the pOpe's instructions as being
the result Of the governments weak
ness in offering any concession beyond
the formation of the cultural associa-
lions contemplated under the law Of
1905. and declare that the government
row has no alternative except TO insist
on the required declarations being
made or show the ecciesiastics the door.
a " M
government to remain true TO its lib
eral principles. contending that the
more the church is intolerant and pam
ic-stricken the more authority it will
need, provided the government does not
lose its head The government has
made preparations to cope with the Sit
uation. but is keeping them ;zecret. evil
IDENTIFY waiting to see whether any corr
siderable proportion of the clergy viii
revolt. The cabinet. however, main
tains a resOlute front.
Prosecutors Instructed.
Instructions to the public prosecutors
were telegraphed broadcast today.
Premier Clemenceau is quoted as say
ing:
IF the church elects to have war, it
will have it: but the world will bear
witness that the vatican is like 2 for
thority of the French government"
NJ. Bryand. minister of public wor-
ship. thinks the pope Yielded to the
opportunities of the Ultra Mon taines,
who are ever possessed with the mad
i6ea that out of disorder and civil war
they will emerge triumphant. The gov
eminent now does not face Il revolt OF
the cOnsciences Of French Catholics
hut purely political enterprise
Program of Cardinal.
Cardinal Richard, archbishop or Fa-
ris. announced today that he would
leave his ecclesiastic residence Dec. 12
and that the clergy here were pfep5ir-
ing to leave their prebyteries. etc, upon
demand. adding that if they were
driven from the churches they viii or
ganize private religious services.
Cardinal Richard saws It is impossI-
! BILE for the pope to agree 70 place reli-
glous services on the plane of public
meetings.
The situation is likely to be further
complicated tomorrow by the debate IN
parliament when explanations o: the
governments intentions will be de-
manded-
/ NJ Meunier. Radical Republican. in.
! troduced a, bill in the chamber or depu-
| ties today providing that ali buildings
pfebyteries. etc, occupied by ecClesiast.
/ les shall definitely escheat 70 ,ne state
departments and communes upon the
enactment of the law.
The Journal des Debates tonight say.
| that il the government has recourse Il
violent measures it will fall iato a traI
and be forced to close the churches 4.
|
Spotless Ermine