FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81916, 15 January 1907, Page 3

FRANCE AND THE VATICAN.

To the Editor. Sir,—For an explanation of the portion of "1!. A. J's" former letter, to which I drew attention, lie now refers mo to a study of the Vatican's action in the crisis that has arisen in France. Let me inform 'lt. A. J." that 1 have closely watched the inarch of events in France and perceive, in the deadlock that lias been reached flic inevitable result of the failure of the French tlovernmeiit to abide by the conditions laid down in the Concordat. That Covcrninent lias been bitterly hostile to Christianity, and is determined to prevent, if possible, its being taught to the rising generation. fn proof of this assertion. lot me give one or two quota Hons J loin speeches delivered recentiv bv prominent members of the French Cabinet. 111. JJriand, .Minis ter for Public Worship, addressing the teachers assembled in congress at Amicus, spoke as follows:—"Wo must get rid of Christianity.., .W'c have hunted .lisus Christ out of the schools, out tf the university, out of the hospitals and refuges, nay, even out of the gaols and lunatic asylums. W'c must nmv limit Jlini out of the liovc'riiuKHt of France." Ilia coisSrerc .U.' Vivani, .Minister of Labor, on the day previous to JI. Briaud's declaration of policy, expressed himself equally in these blasphemous terms:— "All of us together—lirst by our forefathers, ilien by our fathers, and now by ourselves—iiavc been attached to the work of anti-clericalism and irreligiou, Wc have snatched the human conscience from belief in the i'eyond. Together, too. we have, with one sweeping gesture, quenched ill heaven the lights that shall never ba rekindle I. 'JJo you think that the work is a I an end,. No, it isj but commencing." liccause the Vatican did not tamely Mibmit to such relentless persecutors, its intervention is represented as uujusUliable and tyrannical, and shocks the keen sensibilities of your esteemed correspondent. I will leave your readers to draw the, conclusion as to where Hie tyranny exists. The Apostate Emperor Julian, who n,tlemptcd to crush Christianity in its infancy, 'was forced to exclaim in his dying moments: "U (jalilean, thou hast conquered." !so shall it be with his puny imitators to-day in sunny France. — I am, etc..

aiiiuorouxAX.