France and the Vatican

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 1, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 22.

France and the Vatican

France has taken another step toward the denunciation of the concordat with the Vatican, in recalling her ambassador from the Vatican. This is due to the form of the pope's protest against the visit of the French president to Rome. It has developed that the note sent out by the Vatican, notifying foreign governments of its protest, contained a sentence which the note to the French Government did not contain, and this sentence has offended France. It is stated that the whole tone of the note of protest was that of an overlord rebuking a refractory vassal. The entire French press, with the exception of the clerical organization, congratulates France on the energy shown in protesting against what it calls the "insolent attitude of the Vatican." The pope does not desire the denunciation of the concordat, as such action would mean for the French clergy a loss of $10,000,000 annually which the government now spends for the church. The pope is said to be greatly worried over the situation. It is expected that the complete separation of church and state in France will follow this action.

The ninth annual convention of the National Association of Manufacturers met at Pittsburg, Pa., on May 17. President D. M. Parry stated that the association had gained a thousand members during the past year, giving the association at the present time a membership of 3,000 manufacturers. He declared the policy of the association to be against the "closed shop," which he declared to be unamerican and illegal, and that the association was opposed to any oppression of labor either organized or unorganized.

Fighting continues in San Domingo between the government troops and rebels. Two engagements are reported recently, in one of which the government troops lost 30 killed and wounded, and in the other 54 men killed and a large number wounded. The insurgents lost heavily, but the figures have not been given. Trade is at a standstill in the country, and there is much distress among the inhabitants.

General Miles, in a speech at St. Louis, on May 17, declared that the present war in the Orient would be a long and desperate one, and that other nations are bound to be involved. It is significant that there is at the present time great activity in the Krupp gun works, both in the construction of cannon and shipbuilding material, and in the manufacture of lighter field guns and shells.

An attempt on the life of the czar is reported to have been made at St. Petersburg on May 11, while he was reviewing troops to be sent to Manchuria. A girl had been chosen to take the life of the czar, and was in good position to have done it, but her actions were regarded suspiciously by the police, who searched her and found the bomb which she was to have thrown.

An order has gone out from the Western Union Telegraph Company for all wires connected with pool rooms to be cut out at once. This action is the result of severe criticisms of the company for furnishing information to the gambling pool men. The order goes into effect at once, and affects all parts of the country.

A great earthquake is reported to have occurred recently in eastern Roumelia in the vicinity of Jamboli. Two thousand houses were destroyed, and 10,000 persons rendered homeless. Sulphur-laden waters are ruining the crops, and the debris of wrecked buildings strews the ground.

Sir Henry M. Stanley, the famous African explorer, was buried at the little village of Pirbright, England, on May 17. Relatives of the man whom Stanley went to Africa to find were present at the funeral. Stanley's death occurred on May 15.

The Danish scientific expedition to Greenland, after experiencing great hardships, has arrived at the Danish colony of West Greenland. The expedition fitted out to locate the magnetic pole is also now in Greenland waters.

Another battle is reported between Turks and Armenians, at Chelcuzan in the district of Mush, in which the former lost 136 in killed and wounded, while the latter lost their leader and a large number of men.

Dawson despatches state that another great mastodon has been found in the Yukon Territory. This prehistoric specimen is said to be much more complete than the mastodon found recently on Quartz Creek.

American soldiers to the number of 450, under command of Gen. Leonard Wood, have been sent to the scene of the recent engagement with the Moros, to punish the band which ambushed the Americans.

The United States Government will make an attempt to rid the island of Tutuila of the scourge of elephantiasis by destroying the mosquitoes of the island, which are believed to spread the disease.

Wheat has again reached the dollar mark on the Chicago exchange, and there are predictions that it will go even higher.

Great damage has been caused by a cloudburst in Cache la Poudre Valley, Colorado. The destruction of property is placed at more than a million dollars.