The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-07-18
Crisis In France
Will DeCaulle's Ascent
Mean End Of Democracy!
by Erik v. KushneIf-L eddihn

At this point we have to ask ourselves whether
the. recent events in France imply the end of French
In a way, undoubtedly, they 90 since the
hand of parliament was forced by a variety OF
threats.
Still General De Gaulle's ascent to power has
been constitutional and he holds his power, back
ed by the army, with the mot so free) will OF the
National Assembly. Yet, the constitutional reform en-
visaged by him will curtail the rights OF the National
Assembly and recreate a relatively powerful Sen
ate, which has been in allegiance since World War Il.
The Senate will have a partly cooperative cha
racter and this is deemed to be fascist by certain
zealots.
Obviously it is not certain whether the evolution
We have Just seen will stop at this stage. The French
Left, in q way, has abdieafed. is bankrupt and NOR.
ally weak. There is q distinct possibility that France
will drift even further into an authoritarian direction.
The cry for the abolition of parties is being
heard not only among the Algerian ~colonists but also
from such moderate men as the well-knowri writer
George Duhamel who runs a column In Figaro. 1t is
highly significant that the political bodies, which held
all power during the most sanguinary period OF the
LeftiSt French Revolution, were named "Commlttee
of Public Welfare"
To-day the same label has been assumed by The
most righfist local organizations in Algeria, Corsica,
and also in metropolitan France where they have
been constituted in semi-seereey.
A whole historic period is coming to an end.
Of course, the open language of most lbut not
alb French Rightist groups and parties is still strictly
republican,, using the vocabulary of the French Revo-
luton, vet the TACT remains That democracy DIS We
have known it, is drawing to a close. France is still
menaced by totalitarianism OF either a red or a fas-
cist pattern. ~,,;...., .;..
iorship, the great hope . restoration OF that great
Catholic political ideal, the truly mixed government
in which popular opinion plays part in the formation
Of policies but does not dictate Them.
What we have seen until last May in France was
a popular rule pure and simple, a political order
which does not form part of the classic Catholic
political tradition and is just as much opposed to it
as absolute monarchy. I'VE speak about a tradition"
in our political thinking, not of a dogmaD.
American education in general and Catholic edu.
cation in particular have been severely criticized dur.
ina the last year. Under the impact Of the Spufniks
great emphasis is now put on archaeological training
and The sciences.
According to our taste greater emphasis should
be placed on the reform of the humanities, especially
in the domain of philosophy, history, and political
thought.
merely of American history with a few additional
frills, all of them viewed from a local perspective, is
just as sterile as teaching political thought with the
sole aim of extolling democracy.
The time for provinciaIism is passed and, though
q national provinciaIism still holds out in many
places, it is obsolete and invokes. therefore, historic
retribufion. No nation, no political system can claim
that il represents The final and finest stage OF human
evolution.
We do not want to repeat the silly notion that
mankind is being faced, politically, by the simple
choice between either democracy (plus freedom) or
dictatorship (plus slavery.
Reality is far more complex than this frishtful
oversimpIifieafion. There can, to mention Just one
example. be liberal relationships and oppressive dem.
oeraeies).
American Catholics, so frequently accused OF
harboring an ingrained distaste for democracy dicta-
ted by their religion, have reacted against this pre-
JUDGE by trying to prove the contrary, lie. that our
Faith demands a purely representative government.
Neither contention is correct theologically. 1t is also
contrary to the historic record.
Some American Catholics, am almost certain,
will feel uncomfortable il democracy will have TO re-
trench in France. They will see in such . process an
affirmation Of their enemies ~gIoating over the fall
Of another one Of those spurious Catholic demoera'
cies."
Of course, De Gaulle is a practicing Catholic and
so are many of his intimate collaborators and sup
porters. This, needless to say, does not mean that
American Catholics should 60 to the other extreme
and see in him another Archangel Michael.
No Catholic under the sun can %rightfully claim
political infallibility and thus it would be foolish for
us to fall prey to a Gaullist hysteria. A truly souver.
eign and detached mind and outlook should disting-
uish a Catholic more than any other human being