Year: 1872

for all. irrespective Of party.


Frsnce-The Church and tho National


Assembly.


Sunday last was great day in Paris. and.
indeed, throughout France. In all the catAe-
drals from one end of the land to the other
special prayers were offered up to Almighty
God invoking His blessing on the National
Assembly and its proceedings Government
officials attended the services escorted by de-
tails of troops as guards Of honor. In Paris
it was observed that the congregations at all
the churches were unusually large For many
reasons it is impossible for us to refuse to ad-
NIT that such display of public sentiment in
such o direction is justly entitled to be re-
garded as o most striking sign of the times.


Since the Revolution Of 1889, and, indeed.
since period which antedates the Revolution.
the French people have not been distinguished
for the strength of their religious belief or for
their church-going habits. The first French
Revolution was quite as much an uprising
against the Church as it was against the
throne and the titled aristocracy. Before the
fierce breath of the tempest of popular feeling
Church and throne and noblesse were all swept
to destruction. Not only was Christianity
abolished; the Sabbath-the one days rest in
seven-ceased as it seemed by common
consent as we'll as by Parliamentary
decree, to be French institution;
and, as if to mock oil the higher instincts Of
humanity, degraded woman was set up as
the Goddess of Reason, and France. under
the direction of Robespierre, celebrated with
much pomp and solemnity 'sThe Feast of the
Supreme Being" 1t is true that France was
grateful to the First Napoleon for the re-estab-
lishment Of the Christian religion and for the
restoration Of the Sabbath but religious in
the true sense the French people generally.
but particularly the inhabitants of the largo
cities, have never been since those terrible and
disastrous tines: i Is not more trge M that the
throne has never regained it's stability sIa.
that the noblesse have sighed in vain for an
cient place and power than it is that tho
Church has never regained her hold on the
hearts Of the French people.


1t is only few days since the French pa,
pers gave an account of conversation between





Mr.. Sumner is reported to have said to the ex-
Dictator that the great misfortune of France
was its want of religion. Has President
Thiers taken the hint and brought about this
religious display, or has happy change come
over the minds Of the French people2 What
ever the reason, it must be admitted that
France under Theirs contrasts favorably with
~ %boA d.
public of 1872 is great gain on the Republic
of 1894.


Aside from the contrast, however, it is nov
unreasonable, we think, to take it for granted
that the French people are becoming serious
and deeply concerned about the future gov
ernment Of the country. It is to be noted
that the special prayers Of the Church ON
Sunday were offered for the Assembly. It
was not for the Republic, or for the Monarchy,
OF for the Empire, that the voice of the Church
was raised: it was that Divine wisdom might
guide the members of the legislative body in
the work which lay before them. What is to
be the future form Of government it is still
difficult to say. According to President Theirs
the Republic exists it is the legal form Of
SOSCIuucut duy dttCmlt W CStttDllSa ally
other form of government would result in
disastrous revolution; but Notwithstanding
these admissions he hesitates to take decisive
action. 1t may be that President Thers has
the best Of reasons for maintaining the present
state Of things. 1t may be that no other than
a compromise government is possible. But
there are many things which seem to imply
ll.ak l. 49, -
Of the Executive in the direction of the Re-
public would be acceptable to the French
people. It is fact which deserves to be
noted that at all the elections which have
taken place since June, 1871, the republicans
have carried the majority Of the candidates.
On the I'd of July, 1871, there were one hun
dred and twelve seats vacant, and of these one
hundred and twelve one hundred were carried
by the Republicans In January, 1872, there
were more elections and this time fourteen
republicans were successful and only one
royalist. In June there We're three elections and
three Republican triumphs. In October there
were seven elections and six out Of the seven
Deputies returned belonged to the republican
party. These facts speak volumes as to the
tendency of public feeling Then, again, there
is the wonderful success which has attended
the Republic in the payment of the war in
demnity. In eighteen months one-half Of tho
thousand million dollars has been paid to Ger
many No nation in such circumstances ever
did so nobly. AL the glory Of these last
eighteen months belongs to the Republic. 1t
will be strange indeed if the French people
retrace their steps and SO allow either
monarchy or an empire to grow out Of
the ruins Of the Republic Looking over the
whole situation we cannot refuse to admit
that the signs are hopeful for the continuance
and permanence of the republican form of