THE SOLDIER-PREACHER OF FRANCE.

Evening Star, Issue 4151, 16 June 1876, Page 4

THE SOLDIER-PREACHER OF FRANCE.

Friday’s (March 24) sitting of the French Chamber of Deputies was not only the most brilliant since the opening of the session, but one of the most inteUiliing which have been held at Versailles. WBk question was the validity of the Comte de Man’s election for Poutivy. He was—for he has- resigned his commission—a cavalryofficer in the i French arniy. ' Impressed with the dange* ; of the propagation of Socialist tenets, and : with the influence of the International among the working classes, he. resolved to oppose. Democratic Workmen’s Clubs by /Catholic Workmen’s Clubs, and bemade himself the apostle of this idea. lie set himself to preach up the rehab iliation of labor as an inevitable condition of every human society. He, spoke of the future to those bearing the hard privations of the present. Amid passions let, loose bn .every side,, he was an earrrest preacher whose aim was to show that people could live in the world without ceasing to consecrate themselves to a work of peace and . repose'. I have frequently heard him at opposite-extremities of Baris - now before an elite gathering who cheered him- beforehand) now before a fractious, hostile, almost threatening crowd, assembled. to : protest, and’going away with the conviction of baying listened to a man of sincerity. Hk words! have always found simple, persuasive, and persuading. His manner was sometimes less simple than his matter, and more picturesque than his doctrine. He is' young, thin, and graceful; His- black hair shades a broad and powerful forehead, his eyes full of. force and expression, his month* made for command, his complexion dark, his gestures impressive and chastened. Before quitting the army he appear ed on the platform or in the pulpit clad iu a dark militiry cloak, his attitude calm and proud, and during a few seconds, amid the solemn silence prevailing in the immense multitude before him, preserving the motionless aspect of preachers who are meditating on the struggle which they are facing. .Then with a sudden gesture, he flung back the cloak which enveloped him, and like the aucientGod of Battles, victorious in advance, he appeared iu his brilliant officer’s uniform. It is thus that he went from one end of the country to the other. His speeches must be reckoned by hundreds, and his disciples by thousands. To tell the truth, men listened to him for pleasure, and women through Conviction; and his numerous conquests have been made among those who were convinced beforehand. Then arrived the elections. On all sides he was entreated to offer himself. Amid the ' dangers which menaced the Church it was necessary to have in the Legislature an eloquent champion destined to secure the triumph of its imperilled cause. The arrondissement of Pontivy, iu Brittany, was selected for him. The contest was warm, but at the second ballot Comte de Man was elected by some hundreds majority. The priests intervened,- ’the B.shop mixed himself up in the struggle, the clerical papers were ardent supporter's of the layman against the priest. The strife waxed very hot. The return was disputed. In the Chamber on Friday; be boldly claimed the right of the bishop and clergy, and even the Pope, to interfere in the elections. He admitted having announced that; the Pope had honored him with a decoration, thinking this a legitimate recommendation to a religious constituency. ‘ Jarib ldi had recommended a candidate for Paris,’ why should not the Pope ? He •drouuously denied that bishops or priests were State functionaries, and claimed tip right to defend the church against the d-ictrine of M. Gambetta. Since be ad iH'tted gravemen charged againt him, an inquiry was useless,-and be asked for an im mediate.decision. On a division the inquiry was voted by majority 310 to J6B. This, which Wat; essentially a party divislorl, shewn the anti-clerical character of the new Chamber.