Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-04

! erty of the churches, and at not far dis
| tant time II destnes the use of them Ia tho
celebration of Masonic gatherings.
In the first place the first three chapters
of the White Book point out and denounce
the policy of the French government The
two succeeding chapters upset the pretext
put forward by the French government
that the holy see itself furnished a propi-
tious occasion or a plausible pretexl 10 the
republic for its hostile attitude toward tho
ponti6. The White Book contends that the
greatest consideration was shown the
French republic by the holy see The same
book maintains that the holy see scrupu-1
lousy maintained the obligations of thel
concordat. The charges that the holy sees
violated the concordat undoubtedly arosei
from willful confusion between that fact1
and the organic articles attached to itj
by Napoleon l as an afterthought, and Ina
which the holy see had no part and always
explicitly rejected.
The last four chapters furnish a picturol
of the efforts of the French government to
seek a pretext in order to bring about
rupture in the relations with the holy see.1
OF all the public men of France the White
Book appears to blame Nj. Emile Combes
the most. 1t is claimed that the questions
between the French government and the,
holy see. and which IL is claimed the former,
desired to force in its own interpreta ton on
the latter, concerning the nomination OF,
bishops. The pope, IL is asserted by the
White Book. made all possible conce ssions
short of the essential rights of the church.
1t is also asserted that the visit of Presi-
dent Loubet to Rome was treated by Plus
X in the very same way that Leo XIII had
arranged for sovereigns of Catholic coun-
tries who have made visits to Italy.
In Catholic newspapers and clerical cirs
Giles NJ Emile Combes is accused OF keep.
ing back documents which might have IN.
fluenced the French by reason of their very
reasonabIeness. So bitter is the feeling
Ia.
has no hesitation in accusing him OF prsc-]
tically trying to get even" with the church
because having studied for the priesthood,
he, like M Renan, failed to qualify
"Ex-abbe" and disappointed priest are
among the terms of rebuke hurled at M,
Combes in connection with this CONTROVERSY
They talk about the Balkins and all
the time they thinking of Italy. They
have Italy on the brain" said, few days
since leading Austrian public man who
had been discussing the European situation
with number of influential personsges.
His words certainly tend to show how i'm
portant is Italy on the political map OF,
Europe.
There has been a deal of discussion OF;
late regarding Italy's reversionary aspira.!
tions to Tripoli. 1t has been pointed out,
however. that Italy possesses an agreement
with England and formal treaty with
France on this question. Says one of the
leading diplomats of Europe:
ITALY has no ambitions in the direction
OF Africa. Whatever ambitions this coun-
try may have had were rudely checked by
Abyssinia several years ago Italy's inter-
ests all lie in the direction of the MAIN
tenance of peace" r
Nothing that has yet been produced on
the world-renowned Sistine Chapel equals
the work upon the chapel commissioned by
the German emperor and executed by Prof.
Steinmann. Commentators Kaufmann in
presenting this volume to the pope thanked
the pontin for the concession made to
Prof. Stefnmann-a concession which has
enabled him to complete the elaborate
work which he has undertaken. The work |
Is Illustrated rather than adorned with
photographs of large size in separate vol
-urces.