, 1910-04-06
PRETENDER HOPES TO WIN
FRANCE.

Paris, Sunday.-The Duke of Orleans.
r~oyaIist pretender, in a manifesto to the
Royalists of France, apropos of the scandal
arising from the liquidation of the religious
orders, declares that republican institutions
are responsible for the corruption of man.
'In this Instance, "he says, "the liquid
ator with the money stolen from the Church
pays his mistresses."
The Duke announced that he is ready to
come to Paris the minute there is a real
chance OF Overturning the present rue
and he concludes his statement by SAVING
Popular disgust indicates that the time
is almost ripe"
One phase Of the approaching general
election in France is The open political
campaign undertaken in the name Of the
Catholic Episcopare to secure the election
of Deputies to the next Chamber, either
pledged to vote for, or in sympathy with,
the interests Of the Church.
Under the Concordat the intervention of
the clergy in political matters was iIlega}
and any influence exercised was III secret
At the last general election in 1906, which
followed the enactment Of the Separa. ion
law, the Cathoncs did not take a definite
stand, as there was still uncertainty whether
Pope Plus X. would approve the organic
alton Of Public Worship Associations, con
templated by the law. CONSEQUENTLY. not
until this year, when the Catholic hierarchy
IS freed from any legal restraint against
rallying its followers politically, has it goue
boldly into the political arena.
Church Seeks Legal Status.
The avowed purpose is to return a Cham
Der of Deputies which VIII reverse the
present order Of things, at least in 50 far
as to give the Church Il legal status IN nc
cordance with the views Of Rome.
The agitation was initiated with the
declaration OF war against the teaching m
the public schools, which has already re-
suited in a series of suits for donage4 by
the School Teachers Association against
the Bishops who signed the letter.
Along with the campaign against the
teaching in the schools electoral commit
tees OF Catholics we're formed, in sol4e
cases directly under the lea ler~hip Of the
Bishops and clergy in oth rs with the
clergy only associated with the societies.
Many Of the priests, however, have re-
Trained from public participation, and 81
handful of the Bishops. notably the Bishop
of Nice, have publicly disapproved both
the school and political campaign. cleo
toral literature is beng published in true
campaign fashion the religious press ia
" NCiFO "@HA DASdCh7 HI0 DtLCSGS ia
pastoral letters and from the pulpit are
exhorting their followers 10 "yote right"
Some Bishops Moderate.
The language used vrie3 p4rceptibIy
according to the religious feryor Of the
locality. Mgr. Willard, Bishop Of Antun.
for instance, simply adjures the faithful
to CHOOSE a candidate who will vote ac-
cording to your beliefs in religious mat
ters," while Mgr. German. after recall
ing the desire Of the Pope for a union, If
Catholics in the elections, odmonjshes them
that they "must obey the directions of
the Church."
III Brittany the tone Of some Of the
Bishops letters is extremely vigorous.
Mgr. Guerard, Bishop Of Coutauces, after
describing France as the prey of self
seeking politicians who are bringing about
universal decomposition" concludes -;
elf all the Catholics of France will unite
at the coming elections they will put an end
t. the crimes against religion and liberty
which the coalition OF Judaism and Free
masonry are committing ."-Itd