New-York tribune., 1907-01-14
CONDITIONS IN FRANCE.
People Not Irrekgious-Morality
and Purity Coming in Fashion.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: HIS Eminence Cardinal Gibbons has lately
appeared IN the public press with patnttve appeal
for the sympathy OF the American people on be-
half of the Catholic clergy OF France, who are suf
fering now as he alleges. much persecution" at
the hands of hostile and irreligious statesmen
Archbishop Farley has followed him in the same
line, and doubtless other bishops will add their
appeals IN due course, all with evident intent 10
create public sentiment here condemnatory Of
the course being pursued by the French govern
ment. It IS asserted by the Cardinal that this
persecution he terms It, proceeds from an athe-
istcaI spirit, and that # is carried not SO much
against the Church against religion"
That IS too far fetched conclusion 10 be adopted
by any American citizen who has intelligently
watched the course Of political events in France
for the last twenty years It Is well known that
the Catholic heTa rchy with the great majority OF
the clergy, have always been the most active and
dangerous foes OF the French Republic; that un-
ceasingy its uItranontane (Which is the conroling)
element has been untiring in its attempts. both
open and secret to turn the public opinion OF
France against the continuance OF the republic and
again to establish the monarchical regime.
The fight has been with great bitterness ever
since the Dreyfus trial The monarchst cause re-
ceived a body blow when Dreyfus brought
home and. after a new trial. was restored TO his
liberty and rank; since then the only hope of that
Bourbon element which learns nothing and forgets
nothing has been iI2 the Catholic Church.
stirred to activity by the desperate men who
intelligence and it's principles gain ever d
stronger hold IN the hearts Of all true Frenchmen
the Catholic Church must in corresponding degree
lose its hold upon the affections Of the of the
people.
The brave and honorable and wise men now at
the head OF the French government have their ap-
pointed task to perform, and they set to carry
them is an immense majority in the Parliament
and that body is upheld by an overwhelming public
icy consistently and fearlessy. while the hierarchy
poIinv Is ss eL1t InS prosecution ION OF Flghte9gs %
such a cry when the selfish interests of men are
ti0a ton It is quickly done; put an !e' before the r.
It viii not ens ee 6 an6 reae & you E 3apS H.
as iTLeligious; they are not so at all Not long
ing day OF rest in seven snnday for the eope
generally. and other days as they should wish for
obliged to work on sanday And z it S is yet fresh
"a o our recent @ memories that when that seaPegraee
Chamber Of Deputies, one third to half of the
notable incident to show that the French peo-
PIE are ar heart sound in morals and of good safe
the Catholic standards but in the estimation Of all
as acute those q th ece esI orers WhS
assume to sit in Judgment upon them.
tTaordnary event occurred to demonstrate that the
French people are socially much changed from what
Second B1npire, A certain Marquise de Morny de-
mate Ir1end and boon companion OF Napoleon III,
exhibited herself in a vile and indecent manner
and other convenient missiles thrown by men whose
sense Of virtue and decency was thus outraged
she was posing as an example Of high art"
We get our fashions from Paris in other things
besides dress; follow Paris fads in and
cia customs In dress at two or three seasons dis
tance, in art and custom after the lapse OF a dec
ede or generation; So now it will be well for
press who are continually bounding Anthony Com
stock on account OF his fidelity in enforcing the
laws against social impqrity to sit up and take
notice that morality and purity coming into
fashion in France, and that they in great dan
ger OF being sadly left out in the questionable
cold If they persist in support CT dirty thing
that is dubbed high art"
There atheists in France in every other
country but 1t is more right TO aceredit few
OF them with preponderating influence there than
it is the few blatant atheists here with influence
public opinion. Does Cardinal Gibbons know
why it Is that so very few Of the men Of France
seen In the churches? Those who know
much of the domestic and family conditions IN the
provinces and rural communities might be able TO
tell why.
When the Catholic hierarchy again appeal to the
American people for sympathy let them give us
light all sides Of the subject they discussing;
not accustomed to make up Judgment
from one-sided knowledge Of any subject, and win
not be led by any who does not furnish all
facts In the case he treats of.
JOHN H. OSBORNE.
Auburn, n. Y, January T. 1907.