The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-27
Mr.. Payne Says People
Would Rejoice at a
Real Separation
DENIES PRESENT LAW
WILL BRING RESULT
when Did Government in This
Country Shut Doors of Churches
and Prevent Public Worship"

Mr.. John Carroll Payne, well-knowr
member of the Atlanta bar, contributes
to the Journal of that city an interest
ing article on the church Situation" in
Franco He writes:
TO the Editor of The Journal:
had no intention of writing anything
concerning the present situation of the
Catholic Church in France, both sides
having been already presented in your
paper. During the past week. however.
read in the papers that the article on
this subject written by Thomas e. Wat
son, the historian. had been strongly re
commended as being the best source OF
information obtainable on this question.
While do not pretend to the knowledge
possessed by Mr.. Watson on the subject
of French history and questions in con-
nection Herewith, | do know something
concerning the act of separation OF church
and state passed by the French Parlia-
inent. l have the original text OF the
act aud have given the same careful
consideration.
Mr.. Watson has made several state
ments in his article, which appeared last
Sunday in your paper, with which take
issue and which are Incorrect | could
not, therefore, allow his article TO go
'inchallenged when persons were urged
Ia read 1t and form their opinions based
upon its accuracy. / know tho American
people believe in fair play and are actu-
ated. as n rule. by a sense of justice.
hence ] want them to know the truth of
this act of separation Mr.. Watson de-
votes two-thirds of his paper to facts
and statements of his own about 1<St
period OF French history antedatng the
concordat OF 1901, which do not touch
upon the issue involved. save as history
OF the period. He incidentally states
that the French revolution was n re-
volt OF the Catholic common people
against the Catholic nobility of church
and state In the sense that all France
was Catholic. the language might he
used but even then 1t is undoubtedly
The revolution was revolt
against all authority, an overturning and
upsetting of all forms of existing gov
eminent. We will not discuss its provo
cation. God knows it existed.
Mr.. Watson SAYS the revolution did
not make war upon religion and did not
set up atheism.
Their Lives Endangered.
The priests who practiced their re-
ligion did so in the utmost secrecy am.
In danger of their lives. The mob wor-
SHIPPED nude woman enthroned in a
church. The revolutionary calendar dat
ing from September 2Ist, 1892, substi-
tuted for the Christian era the era of
the revolution. The month was no
longer divided into weeks, but into three
periods Of ten days each, the last OF
which was called "dccardi,' and was ap-
pointed day of rest, taking the place of
Sunday. which was abolished ana this
ban was vigorously enforced The
churches We're used for every purpose
save that of religion and the priests were
killed with thousands of others. the In
nocent being included with the guilty
guilty OF being wealthy or aristocratic).
tSee Guizot's Reign of Terror.D You
may not call this war upon religion and
evidence ,of atheism but it certainly re-
senbles 1t. After several years. of blood
shed, rapine, pillage lust, murder and
every crime in the calendar. known as
the reign of terror, when reason was en-
throned in place of God, there was a luli