Year: 1874

TUE FOREIGN POLICY or ERA"cR


At the time Of the negotiations for peace
three years ago between Germany and France,
the opinion was generally entertained at the
German Headquarters that, within five years,
the French Government would endeay0r to re-
trieye the losses through the war by seeking
alliances with foreign powers hostile to Ger
many. Recent events show that there was
good cause for these apprehenslons. The
present Ministry in France came into power III
great measure through ecclesiastical influences.
AS one result, the Government is strongly
inclined to support the temporal aims or the
Pope This policy is, in itself, sufhclentiy
short-sighted; but the Government has COM
mitted the still greater error of allowing these
Influences to complicate its foreign relations
The Archbishop of Paris, in a pastoral issued
few months ago, made bitter attack upon
the King of Italy; the Bishop of Nancy made
an equally violent attack on the Emperor OF
Germany, and these were followed by even
stronger denunciations of those rulers by the
clergy over the greater part of France.


We believe that great latitude should be al
lowed in the discussion Of affairs of public
interest. Under ordinary circumstances it





tertere with the ecclesiastical authorities for
such language as was held by the clergy OF
France. But the state of affairs in that cOun
try is somewhat different from the general
rule. In international relations it is we'll
established principle that one power may
hold other powers responsible for the un-
friendly language of their officers. The RO-
man Catholic clergy in France Cardinals as
well al cures, are officers Of the Government
almost to the same extent as are cabinet min
listers and tax-cOllectOrs. The State controls
their installation, and they receive their sala-
ries from the same source They have, more
over, a Minister in the Cabinet, an important
part of whose business is to regulate their
affairs. A short time ago telegram from
Paris apprised us of an official act which
shows how close are the relations between the
clergy and the civil authorities. This was the
ceremony of delivering the hats to the newly
appointed French cardinals, which was per-
formed by President MacMahOn. In his speech
on the occasion he thanked the Pope for con-
ferring these hOnOrs, and added: "The Holy
Father knows our flial attachment and our
admiration at the manner in which he sup
"ports his trials. His sympathies were with
Gus in our misfOrtunes, and ours are with
"himr


1t 10 not surprising that the German Gov
ernment chose to hold that of France
responsible for these manifestations. They
indicated q warm sympathy with the Pope,
whom the Emperor of Germany regarded as
the cause of the disloyalty of large portion
Of the inhabitants of Germany. They also
tended to create strong sentiment in France
in favor of speedy renewal OF hoetilities.
The facts that the pastorals could not have
been published without the consent of the
French Government, and that the expense of
publication must have been betrayed from the
public treasury, were sufficient to warrant
q remonstrance. The manner in which the
German representations were first received was
calculated to increase the doubts respecting the
friendly disposition of President MacMahon's
Cabinet. The Minister Of Foreign Affairs en-
deavored to employ the artifce of pleading
want of authority. The fallacy of this course
was clearly apparent from the manner in
which the Cabinet had employed . more
doubtful authority for the suppl esson of
Republican demonstrations. We can easily
imagine the haste with which the authority of
the State would have been exercised against
the clergy if they were to advocate the dis
solution Of the National Assembly. The
French Cabinet itself finally saw that this
position was untenable, for. at last mild
remembrance WAS addressed to the eccles-
astical authorities by NJ. dc FOurton, the
Minister OF Public instruction. The way in
which this circular was received by the Ultra
montane journals was not promising Of strict
compliance on the part of the clergy. The
kilograms Of several days ago indicated that
this opinion was also entertained at Berlin,
and that further complications were imminent.


The energetic course Of the German Govern
ment called forth Q statement in the French
Assembly last week from the Duke Decazes.
Much stress was laid upon the necessity Of peace
for the prosperity Of France. and it was said to
b the sincere desire Of HE Government to
main1in relations Of harmony and friendship
with Italy. 1t 10 also said that friendly assur-
aaQe. haze ben given to tae Italian FOREIGN