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Show 'THE CHURCH IN FRANCE. In'178'J the Constituent Assembly met to n f.,r,u I abuses, abolish unwarranted privilege :;n, ri.ij,. j ihe financial distress which was driving L-" r:I ; bankruptcy. It and the succeeding legislative ;H. semblies attempted to reform "everything." ;,, j yent from one excess to another, until at lav, (,n. I ing the Reign of Terror, chaos reigned. Ti !:.,., j and queen had been beheaded, the nubility a a.! I clergy, to escape death, were forced to bee,,.,.,,. , .... I iles. Their possessions were confiscated :in ,!,.. I dared "'national property." Religion uj, ished. Civil society had ceased to exir. ;i:i)j t f escape from these horrors at any cost. Frnn.-c :... f corned the dictatorship and empire of l;..n;.;.;.r., I These meant at least a respite and perha- i , , ,- f manent restoration of law and ord. r. ('ii! f ciety had literally to be built up r.iin. Ti,. j poleon code of laws was formulated, th.- cii.., v. j invited to return to France. They did n t i ;; ,;; f great numbers. Wherever possible their ,;,.; ....... j was restored to them, and when thi- un- i. ., f sible. a compensation in. money was imid.-. 1: evident to the genius of Bonaparte that a s . , , r ; . . n cannot endure without religion and morality. ;,!;, that the great authoritative teacher -f 1.!: f Mother Church. So he entered into eg..fi:,t ;.:, I with the Pope with the object of ro-eil.',i,;.ir.r. Catholicity in France. The Concordat v.,. t;,,, result. Wherever possible the p-clesia.-t i.-ai i.nii.l I ings and property were given back to the ri-!:-;'.il j owner, the Catholic Church of France. '. fn.-.. i j the latter had been self-sustaining. I;iri:!- mo J Revolution her wealth had been conn-. ;! I a -, ! I squandered. j- . To make amends and partial restitution, th French government obligated itself to pay a!ari f , to the secular clergy. The bill (projet do r, i under consideration in the French assembly pro- f poses not only to discontinue these payment-. 1-it 1 to take over and declare "national property" nil j- the possessions of the Church used at present t'.-r the exercise of religion. This property belongs f..- day as it has ever belonged to the Catholie? rf f France, and not to the French people. The Ca;h- j olics naturally object to this robbery under tho - i form of legality. It will be robbery and spoliation under the Rouvier ministry, just as it was u;te!,.r f the 'Red Terror." There will be a differem-.. in j methods, but no difference in the injustice and ' tyranny of tho deed. In' this year of disgrace, for j France, might will evidently be accounted right. j The object of the bill is confiscation and the Ac- j s traction of religious freedom. ? I In spite of this persecution the Church will sur- , vivc and will achieve again, we believe, triumphs ! similar to those of a century ago. There will un- j doubtedly be misery among the pastors and spirit- ual suffering for the flock. It will take time and j patience to educate the people to the new order of things. But the fight is on and must proeeed to a ' j finish. The duty of the. leaders is clear ami mu-t not be shirked. The rallying cry of the Radicals has been that the Church was reactionary, a secret enemy of the Republic, and working for its over- throw. The accusation is false, of course. Granted j freedom of worship, and the Catholic Church docs j not trouble herself about the character of the civil government of a country. She thrives as well in a ; Republic as under a monarchy, for "her kingdom is not of this world." This struggle for freedom j must be fought in the political arena. The bishop! and priests must lead. They must prove them- f selves patriotic Frenchmen; they must eominc I -iheir fellow countrymen, of the purity of tlir patriotism. If there linger in any minds renuianti J of the old loyalty to the House of Bourbon, they - must cut them out; they must rally around the tfag of the Republic because it is the flag of France. j Let them mass the columns of their friendly voters j against their present adversaries. Let the slogan .be: "Uphold the Constitution; down with perse- j cuting ministries." Brothers of France, you will triumph. V'ur cause is just and will prevail! ( s |