New-York tribune., 1906-12-24
lWGR. IRELAND ON FRANCE
Erpects Happy Outcome of Conflict
Tile Priests Not BlameLess.

st. Paul, Dec 23-Archbishop Ireland. in his SER
mon at the Cathedral this morning. spoke on the
topic. Church and State in France" He said, in
part:
The conflict raging at the present time between
versal and profound interest. II could not be
contestants on the one SIDE the Catholic Church,
WiicIl lor ages has SWayed the moral and religious
mands as n Heavens name, the right to continue
lts work a-down the coming on the other. the
ma ChariendSne has reveiled in title of eldest
amid peoples tie most conspicuous place in G te
vanguard OF religion and OF civilization
serious for both contestants Yet. seen more
aa[near it reveals no cooring of despair either for
france or for the Church of France, bright
aaMn aGTg; 6er care tb PTedct VIII at not distant time
Skies sunshine and peace and begetng. both IN
TIE Church and in France. joy and exutation that
the way 10 a clearer Understanding Of mutual in
terests to a warmer glow Of olden mutual love.
Ahu now, Dy dct o. PaTli .men,. ConcOrdat
IS ABOLISHED, 4 regime of separation is instituted
have to-aly different significance in their land
from what Is allowed to them in France Separa-
means liberty and justice; there it means servi-
Under advice from the head of the Church, the
bishops OF France refused the associations offered
ciple; in the interest of religion they could not
approve such associations; they could not by toll
Grating them appear TO approve them.
Pope and bishops knew the consequences that
were to follow; the spirit of the government was
not hidden from their eyes; it was era Of
It is Iamentable fact that there is in France a
a party + bent on the des1FaGti0R Of religion The
in France represents religion. In reality, in in
tent and in fact. the war is against Christianity
against the idea itself of God reigning over man
~ 30 old Spill Of notaire and the the enfyGIoRdsts
This party OF inhdels and atheists is far from
puIo8s and ii forces Itself With vengeance to the
front i has. graspei the helm of power and it
Of qnbelief and irreligion; Yesterday. It was
but vet loader in the fight.
M6 ss6 Of e ss Es7 5 wa5 anhST eS4 e ae af t
Of France even when her rulers were devout Cath
R1Wsri ia { i tP FS0S F09 EgSn c6qFs
the republic. The republic is name in France; It
of Louis XIV France has never understood the
meaning Of republic, which is respect for private
ana personal liberty which is to leave as much as
what is needed for the public veal
The State IS the great power, and all must think
and act as the state wills This is certainly the
and am not at all sure it would not be-. to some
deSTee - least the spirit Of good Catholics who
would believe 1t their duty to make every one go
to mass, as the present government assumes II as
I know France from the Channel to the Mediter-
her people The masses are not used in political
life For ages they were governed; they do not
comprehend the art, Of governing Nor is there
among tfe masses & the ambition to gam 2 po5Gad, ed
VICTORY IaIlS Tor q century ana a ndiI mas Fultu
France Establish a new regime, monarchical or
republcan. i'm Paris his evening The provinces
awaken tomorrow morning monarchical or repub-
tcan. II will require long years to decentraiiZe
power in France. TO give the citizens consciousness
OF personal Independence to obtain through untVer
sal suffrage true expression of national Will
The clergy, who are now the chief sufferers, are
much to blame They. too. have retained. at
obedience inherited from old regimes. Admirable
IN teaching the catechism, In administering the
sacraments, they have learned the virtues OF
public life, they have never quckened beneath the
their preaching have left their disciples In the
passVity, and these know nothing of the public
defence of principles: saints before the altar, they
towards before the electoral urn.
Then. French Catholics have been unfortunate in
many of their leaders and spokesmen If the masses
of the people have learned any thing it Is this:
That France IS a republic. that they are repub-
licans The infdel, the socialist. who solicts votes
must cast his vote for a monarchist" and the
masses vote for the inhde the socialist in order
that the republic survive. trusting TO the republic to
do I'm the long what is most servceable for
France and even for religion itself
The evil goes farther. There is infidel or
socialist candidate. and opposed to him repub-
ican. moderate, conservative who clings 10 a
peaceful. religious. France. But he is a
republican; monarchists. generally we'll known
Catholics put up candidate Of their own; the
king must not be forgotten If no kings live, scores
OF them have lived. and fidelity to them is the duty
of the hour. What happens? The moderate re-
publican IS defeated: the inldel socialist Is
elected.
No one understood France better than Leo XIII
He bade all Catholics seek the welfare of country
and Of Church within the ranks of loyal adherents
to the republic. Had Leo been listened to France.
in all probability would have escaped the religious
persecution of the present day. Monarchical ideas
and plottings have done dreadful injury to the
Church in France.