The Washington herald., 1906-12-12


and state has come at last. AS yet there
has been no outbreak OF violence, but
overt acts have been begun by the gov
ernment. and Prime Minister Clemenceau
has flung the gage of battle before the
ohurchmen who challenged him TO declare |
or explain himself
More acute than ever is the question OF
what the morrow viii bring forth There
is. however. not the slightest agitation
manifested in Paris or in the depart |
ments. so far as heard from the govern
ment. save only journalistic discussion
which continues as lively as ever. but so
far without the Incorporate heat of other
times, and discussion in the Chamber,
which enlivened the closing moments OF
this afternoons session.
Moreover. far from being embarrassed
by the precipitation of political discus
sicn. the government apparently couTted
its immediate development and the re-
suit. so far as known to-day, disclosed
the fact that the government was well
supported among the Deputies in its at
titude. and even to the point of defiance
which NJ. Clemenceau declared on Sunday.
when the prime minister observed. on
q 7
the church wants war, she will have it.
She viii get it to-day"
Chamber Would Not Consider Peace.
He told the Catholics IN the Chamber:
at is as you wish. You have chosen war, |
and il begins to-day" And when. after
this sharp declaration, the church's parti-
sans sought to secure the Chambers reg
istration of feeling by pleading the ur-
gency Of the question, the Chamber re-
fused to determine the moment as an ur-
gent one, and rose instead
Churches Quiet In Paris
in Paris. the churches work as quietly
as though normal conditions had not
been disturbed. NJ. CIemenceau's exposi-
T. the Chamber of the governments
il son to respond to what 1t consld-
cred the first act Of war was brought
Sbout. .by>a question asked by NJ Grossau,
Heputy for Lille who is professor Of law !
81 the CathoTs University there.
FThe government had to-day, through its
judicial officers. searched the abode of
Mgr MontagniRl. formerly secretary 10
the papal nunico who. since the abolish
ment Of the nunciaure. has remained
there in charge of the archives Mgr.
Montagnini appealed 10 the Italian En-
bassy for protection as an italian sub
ject The news quickly spread, and NJ.
Groussau announced that he would bring
the matter up in the Chamber NJ. Gle
menceau however, was engaged in the
Senate, which caused delay. When he re-
entered the Chamber IT was filled i'm
mediately, and the excitement was few
erish Word was passed TO NJ. GrOussau,
who mounted the tribune amid the keen
est attention He said he wished 10 Ques-
ton the president Of the council regard
ing the search of the nunciatUre. He
added;
ASSaiIS CIemenceaU.
"You have, n. CIemenceau. written ad-
mirable pages against arbitrary search,
Yet YOU have seized diplomatic docu-
ments, in a dwelling that was formerly
covered by extra-teTTitoriality. From
what motive? I find your reason in the
ministerial circular accusing Catholics Of
unlawfulness and illegality rather than
in your passing the text of one law into
another We Catholics do not play poll
tics. but defend the liberty of our re-
liglon. The president Of the council has
done a grave act In striking where he
thought TO strike-the head of the Cath
oIic Church"
NJ. ClemenCeau replied that the gov
ernment had not searched the nuncia-
tUre. for the nunciature had not exist
ed since the denunciatiOn of the con-
cordat No. 10 Rue Elysee was in his
eyes like any other house. Mgr. Mon,
tagnini occupied il without an official
title. He guarded the archives but he
dId more; he received instruction from
Cardinal Merry del Val and transmit
tod ha grr7c IN he febn of
France.
Minister Defends Rights.
The prime minister added; / be
lieve ! have the right to end this in
ternational correspondence. Our in
tentions were moderate. You respond
ed with refractory words as if you
alone had the right to strike blows,
never to receive them We viii combat
Roman politics. There have been also
other acts.
Three Paris cures received orders to
violate the law OF 1905. We viii assure
the supremacy OF the civil law. You
sought war You will have it. and we
begin to-day applause from the lefO:
this is only the first gun shot. 1 appeal
for public peace before there is war to a
finish. With this good counsel l think
Wei VI lHe iuLufe OF the ldesS you rep
resent. The law of 1881 was not made
with any idea Of separation. We offer
it TO you. Take it. If not. it is war, and
you have willed it,"
n. GrOusseaU replied that the Cath
olics would not recon before Freema-
sonny.
Proposes Amending Law OF 1881.
N. Massabeau proposed amending the
law Of 1881 in the interest Of religious
peace. He asked that the people be
granted urgency. The Chamber declined
and the session ended amid considerable
agitation.
Mgr. Montagnini is supposed this even
ing 10 be on his way TO Italy The par
ticuIars of the accusation against the
three cures referred to by NJ. Clemenceau
were made public in the Chamber. but the
court. where the proceedings originated.
received orders that complaints were
made for misdemeanors committed Sun
day in violation Of the law of 1900.
The C0ncordats' last day produced no
incident in parish churches. The arch
bishops sent no new instructions, and the
authorities took no new measures.
Artistic FIOraI Decorations