The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-03-14
REALANCIENT history
When the Catholics and the
Prosestants Fought in
France


I'm France During the Fourseeath.
Fifteenth and sixtecash Censaric~
Catholic Leagues and Their Oh
ject-How the Aii-wise One sIAfs-
ell Up" Religious Pioneers when
Their Cause Appeared 20 BE Los,
When Edicts Were rrcqueat
and the People Had te Obey or
Fight-Terrible Destruction OF
Life and Property.
Bilkinsville. n. c.. March Il. 1917.
| Correspondence OF The Caucasian
Enterprise.l
From 1870 to 1875 there wuz war
in France between the Catholics and
Protestants. and the Catholics met
with defeat az often az victory. This
wuz durin' the reign ov Henry the
third. In 1875 a peace wuz con-
cluded, known by the name ov the
Edit OF Pacidcations the substance
| ov which wuz, that the liberty ov
conscience, an the public exercise,
| or religion. were granted without any
other restriction than that they tthe
! Protestants) should not preach with
| In two leagues ov Paris nor any 9TH
| er point where the seat ov govern
ment might be located. Party cham
| bers were established in every Par
| lament, to consist ov equal numbers
ov Catholics and Protestants, before
whim awl causes were TO be tried,
an eight towns were given up TO the
Protestants, az they had a majority
ov the citizens on their side. Doubt
less higher power had most to do
with this. At any rate hit wuz a
great step-down from the former ar
bitrary course pursued by the Cath
olic authorities
The action caused the Catholics to
form an association called the Catho-
olic League. In this League the
King wuz mentioned with respect
but he could plainly see that hit
struck at the very root ov hiz author
ity; for, az the Protestants awlready
| had their chiefs, SO the Catholics
were. for the future, to, depend upon
the chief ov the League entirely, an
were, by the words ov hit, to execute
whatever he commanded against any
without exception to jersons.
| Hz .
Protestant. At any rate he leaned
that way, an, at first wuz not ac-
knowledged az King by many Catho-
lies, for they had gotten deeply into
| politics. an seemed to think that
the country would fall to pieces, un-
less their rule or ruin policy wuz
adopted. But Henry 4th had not been
seated long before he decided to
start war with Spain, then n strong
Catholic country, an hit In yet, I be-
| lieve. Those old time Kings could
never stay In a good humor long at
time. Henry 4th wuz seated in
1897.
| Among the first Official acts ov the
new King wuz an effort to put an end
to the religious disputes which had
naturally caused much bitterness
throughout the country. For this
purpose he issued the celebrated edict
dated at Nantes. April 13. 1893. 1t
re-established In q most substantial
manner awl ov the favors that had
ever been granted TO the Protestants
In France up to that time. He even
granted them new privileges allow
Ing them full admission to awl en-
ployments ov honor an trust, includ-
In political Offices, too. The chill
dren ov Protestants were allowed to
enter awl universities an schools ov
other grades. One mite hev thought
that this would hev tended to in
crease the war feelin' In Spain. But
hit didn't. Instead. Henry conciud-
ed a peace treaty with Spain on
terms ov much advantage to both
| countries.
When Henry 4th died hiz wi
dow became acting queen. for the
only eligible SON wuz yet under age.
Durin' the reign ov this queen many
things transpired which should hev
been stopped. But when the young
King finally reached the throne he
he made things hum. He banished
hiz mother, the former acting queen,
to Blois and caused her unholy con-
sort, Marshal (General) d'Ancre 70
be put to death. He appointed the
celebrated Cardinal Richelien az the
chief assistant In hiz cabinet an he
proved TO be Q valuable man I'm run
MIN government affairs.
In 1870 France wuz disturbed by
another Catholics an Protestants.
which wuz more hotly contested than
ever before. for both sides had
grown stronger an the former COM
mendable efforts ov the King had
been set aside I'm numerous instances