The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-09

tto HipOTthHt pnuSeS OF inc great con-
tliot which for the last four years has
been going on In France.
Not since the French Revolution and
the establishment of the Third Republic
has france taken q step SO important
for her national life, The magnitude OF
tho event can scarcely be overestimated.
Great principles arc involved which were
long since settled In our own land, and
we believe settled rightly and finally.
NO people IRE In n better position to
Judge dispnssionately the situation in
france than the American people, and
mono are more Interested In knowing
what has taken place. The value set
upon American public opinion is seen in
the efforts which are being made to inll,-
ence 1t. France has been charged with
persecution, spollatlon and robbery, with
the violation of international obligations,
with the reputation Of a national debt,
with irreligion and blasphemy. How
much of this is true? What has France
really dono? In answering this ques-
ton some things must be kept clearly in
mind.
In the first place, this conflict has not
been a battle between Roman Catholics
and Protestants. France is n Roman
Catholic nation. There are thirty-six
Roman Catholics to one Protestant. II
Protestants had attempted to carry
through this policy. they could have been
overwhelmingly outvoted. The Jews like
wise are few In number. This has been
q battle OF Catholics with Catholics. 1t
Is partly a battle between Catholics who
have left the church and Catholics who
are still in 1t; It is still more n battle
between the Catholic monarchists and
the Catholic republicans, between Cath
olics at Rome and those in France.
SecOnQly. thia aueSffop q IN IN. - ~
has been decided for France, has been
decided by the French people through
their representatives in Parliament. on
the other hand, the final Catholic policy
has been decided by one man--the Pope
at Rome. Again and again the prin-
ciple involved has been referred to the
French people In general elections. In
spite of the complications of French
politics and the number and tendencies
or French parties, the separation law
has been sustained by overwhelming
votes. The Catholics. on the contrar,,
have been much divided. Speaking gem
orally, the monarchists have opposed the
bill; the republicans have sustained It.
a group Of twenty-three of the most
eminent Catholics in France, among
whom were Brunetlere, Anatole Leroy
Beaulieu and others OF equal distinc-
ton in letters and law. In a letter over
their own signatures. addressed the
bishops of France, and. while depre-
eating the character and spirit OF the
law, urged the bishops to accept It and
to organize under 1t. The fact that
q number of eminent Catholic laymen
should venture to influence the bishops
In q matter of national Importance
made them the subjects Of ;iolent
attack from the ultramontane organs;
they were dubbed green cardinals
because so many OF the signers were
privileged to wear on their coat the
green palm of the French Academy. The
bishops, however, were not uninluenced
by this appeal. Some of them, like the
Archbishop OF Rouen, had Independently
the Assembly of Bishops, by a large
majority, a decision was reashed in
favor of organizing under the new law.
Thus If the question for the Catholic
Church in France could have been de-
cided by the suffrage OF Its most dis
tinguished layren or by that of tho
bishops. the vote would ave been for
submission. In France, however, while
the affairo of the nation are settled by
popular suffrage and by representative
government, the affairs OF the church
are settled by an appeal to the Pope,
who has dieregarded the bishops and
the law.
A writer in the Catholic World, OF
New York, describing the situation
before the Pope's decision. says: 'The
lay Catholics OF France were then d.
Vided into two camps: on the one side
there We're those who were called sub
missionists.' and on the other the advo-
cates of resistance. The hierarchy and
the clergy were equally divided" 80
long as the Holy See had made no def
,ttn| =, y, N !. n t-r tI. ~rtto,,
which French Catholics ought to adopt,
they We're very much divided on the
question, but unanimity instantly reigned
on the day when Pope Plus X. formally
Indicated a definite policy"
This unanimity is not the unanimity OF
conviction, but of obedience. 1t is the
unaninlity with which soldiers obey a
general even when they know he is
wrong. A distinguished prelate OF the
Catholic Church in this country has pub
licly said that If Leo XIII. had been in
tho papal chair the deadlock would not
have occurred. Another Catholic equal
ly eminent has said that the present
Pope knows nothing of international pol
itics. does not understand France, and Is
guided by q small clique at Rome. 1t
Is not alone American Protestants who
doubt the wisdom of governing a church
so that the ripest conviction of Its most
eminent men, both lay and clerical, Is
set aside by the edict of one man III a
foreign land; many French Catholics
have left the church because they can
not be loyal to an authority that does
not command their convictions. They
refuse to accept the formula OF M. Brune-
tiere to obey the Pope in the dark II
they cannot obey him in the light. TLs
most pathetic aspect Of the religious
situation In France is not due to the
action of the government, which has
not closed the churches: it it due to the
fact that Thousands on thousands Of
Catholics AVE left the church because
they decline longer to accept its dogmas
or its authority. They are orphaned
Catholics without n religious home.
They cannot be recalled by DEGREES or
anathemas.
Catholics. both regular and nominal,
in France may concede the right of the
Pope to decree as to vestments and
doctrines, and to decide questions that
are purely religious; but a majority Of
the SO, 900, 900 of Catholics have decided
that they will not longer maintain Il