The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-14

Baltimore, Md, Dec. 4-"France has
treated her noblest citizens with injustice
and inhumanity. and America, which has
sympathy for the oppressed OF all ma
tions. has raised no protest nor uttered
word OF sympathy" said Cardinal Glib
bons last evening when asked for his
opinion OF the situation I'm France and OF
the religious crisis which has grown out
of the enforcement OF the separation law.
He added: THE American public does
not understand the present crisis In
France. The leaders of the present French
government are actuated by nothing less
than hatred OF religion" He continued:
III / believed that my countrymen
would knowingly see a great and benef-
cent organization unjustly deprived or It's
property and the means OF continued USE
funess: would knowingly see tens OF
thousands OF honest men and noble wo-
men robbed OF their just income and
means OF support would knowingly see
hundreds of thousands and even several
millions OF people brutally wounded in
what they hold dearest and most sacred;
would knowingly see a majority In the
chamber utterly disregard and trample
upon the rights OF the minority and the
rights of millions OF their countrymen--
In the name OF liberty-would knowingly
see tens OF thousands OF men and women,
who happen to be priests and nuns. turn
ed out OF their homes for no crime but
that of loving God and serving their
neighbor, / say, II my countrymen can
see and recognize all this injustice and
tyranny and cruelty. and refuse genuine
sympathy TO those who suffer by them
because OF their religious belief then /
Will leave life without that faith In Amer
fcan love OF justice and liberty and hu
manity which has been my comfort and
support and hope during a long career.
ANTI-CLERICAL HATRED.
Most people over here have little con-
ception of the French Anti-Clericals. The
majority OF them have far less love OF
the republic than they have hatred OF
religion. I am Weighing my words and
say with deliberate conviction that the
leaders of the present French government
are actuated by nothing less than hatred
or religion. We have no spirit akin to
theirs in this country. We have here
much Indifference to religion. but We have
no body OF men, no great party that
makes IL a chief aim 20 weaken the power
OF religion and II possible utterly 10 de-
stroy IL out OF the land.
But In France the Jacobin party Is not
dead. They hate God. they hate Christ
they hate his religion as much as ever
their fathers hated them. But they have
learned more prudent and measured
method OF attack. They are almost scien-
tihc In the means they take TO suppress
Christianity. And yet the utterances Of
such men are received as unsuspectingly
by many Americans as would be a dis
course by Mr. Cleveland or Mr.. Roose-
Net or Mr.. Taft-men who recognize the
powerful influence that religion has I'm
promoting the welfare OF society
1T is easy to show that am not mis-
representing the spirit of the Anti-Cleri-
ais, Ihey make no secret OF their
The press and In the chambers"
QUOTES SPEECHES.
Cardinal Gibbons then quoted extracts
from several speeches in the chamber
among them being one by NJ Viviani. the
new minister Of labor, who, he said. gave
ntterance TO these sentiments:
All OF us together first by our fore
fathers then by our fathers, now by our
selves, have been attached to the work
OF anti-Clerlcalism and irreligion. We
have snatched tho human conscience from
belief I'm a future life. Do YOU
mink that the work is at an end? No. Il
is but beginning. Continuing. the cardi-
The chamber decreed that the discourse
from which this extract is taken should
pe pIacarded In every town and village Of
In the same strain the present minis
ter OF public worship and the most siren
nous advocate of the law OF separation
M BRAND, said I'm an address to school
teachers:
HUNT OUT CHRIST.
Inc time has come TO root up from
the minds OF French children tho ancient
Iaith, rith, which has served its purpose, and
=. =
IL is time TO get rid OF the Christian idea
We have hunted Jesus Christ out OF the
army, navy the schools. the hospitals
insane and orphan asylums and law
courts: and now we must hunt him out OF
the state altogether
What would we Americans say IL a
Caplnet onicer were TO propose this as the
great aim Of his administration?
For some reason the sentiments OF the
Anti-Clericals are not reproduced by our
papers. But let a French statesman ut
ter counsels of moderation and sentiments
OF liberty when he wishes to check his
followers and prevent them from foil
ing his plans by too great haste and zest
then his fair words are spread before the
eyes Of our people.
''They are taken as the expression Of
wisdom and fair play. For a spinner OF
beautiful discourses. breathing humanity
and justice, the French demagogte cam
not be surpassed. These men and those
VINO inherit their spirit can talk more
divinely and act more dabollcally than
any other on earth. They do not az
course. want bloodshed now, but the
spirit OF hatred exists in them just as
strongly.
CONFLICTS HISTORY.
'ln order 10 understand the present sit
uation IL must be borne I'm mind that be-
fore the French Revolution all churhes
Rll ecclesiastical lands and all properties
belonging TO the church had as Just a IL
tie as property is owned I'm our own coun-
try by the Catholic, Methodist or any
other religious denomination. At the revo-
dh DuiiuiHSSs properties,
funds etc, were confiscated by the revo-
lutionists.
''But the injustice of this was soon rec.
oSniZed and the constituent assembly
publicly and solemnly pledged itself 10
render some sort OF justice TO the church
by giving for the support OF the clergy
and the maintenance OF worship an an
nual budget. This amounted 10 little
more than I per cent on the values ap-
propriated by tho state.
The present conflict dates back TO the
year 1880, when a large number OF relig-
ious houses were closed by order OF the
government and their occupants dis
persed and forced TO seek religious lib
erty in the land Of the stranger From
Avoid