The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-18
CHURCH THREATENS FRANCE.
RELIGIOUS OUTBREAKS MAY
GROW INTO REBELLION.
NJ. Ribot Among Those VINO Predict Civil
war ~ . Result Of the Separation Law
Mine Disaster 10 Locked Upon by
Many 40 q Punishment From Heaven.
Special Gable p.spatcs 10 TIE sun

Special Gable Despatch 10 TIE Sun.
PARIS, March 17.-Not In many years
has so much bitter, respondent language
about the fate Of the French Republic been
INDUCED in as now. Even responsible
politicians, such as NJ. Ribot, 90 80 far
as to prophssy civil war In the near future.
II n mingled exclusively in clerical
society he would soon be led to expect q
revival Of the Commune and q resulting
monarchy in a few weeks. In a word, we
are witnessing to-day in France the long
postponed outburst Of religious fanatical
feeling caused by the movement for secu-
larizing the State. II was inevitable sooner
or later, and az it develops 1t is likely to
cause many grave incidents, developing
perhaps into ~inoipient local rebellions.
The explanation is simple. The French
are no longer a homogeneous people from
a religious point of view. The majority,
especially in the cities and populous dis
tricts, strongly support the Separation bill
but in certain districts, especially in Brit
tany and Auvergne, the Church still has a
strong hold on the population.
There was q striking example Of religious
superstition this week in the neighborhood
Of the great mine disaster The population
there and in other districts of France also
have seized Upon the calamity as a direct
punishment from Heaven for the saori-
legious policy Of the nation. Visiting mem
bers OF the Government were greeted "a
.murderers and ~assassins and mobbed by
the families of the victims.
These sentiments, when In oontro OF
large bodies Of ignorant peasants, may
easily lead to bloodshed, and M. Clemen-
oeau, the new Minister Of the Interior.
faces the most difficult problem in exeout-
ing his avowed policy Of taking the remain
ing 10, 1000 inventories in country churches.
Most of this work must be done in the two
months intervening before the national
election. The new ministry is, however
one Of the strongest ever orga nized in
France. The country as a whole undoubt-
eddy supports the me mbers Of the Sarrien
Cabinet.
M. Clemenoeau's great abilities are for
the first time enlisted in the official service
of his country. He has boldly taken the
most difficult post, and it may confidently
be assumed that Republican institutions
are safe in his hands. 1t will be one OF the
most interesting periods in modern French
history, and it is a pity that 1t Ia somewhat
complicated by the foreign situation.
The chief point Of public interest Is the
attitude that the Pope will adopt. The
situation would be completely cleared II
for the obedience Of the Catholic population
would be implicit. 1t is the impression In
non-clerical circles, however, that he will
let events take their course without regard
TO the serious bloodshed that may follow.
This, OF course, implies that the head OF
the Church tacitly approves the violent
resistance which is now the aSowed pur-
pose Of the Catholic population, It is I'M
fair, or at least premature, to asoribe this
attitude to the present Pontif.