CHURCH AND STATE IN FRANCE.
By Editor
The Springfield Republican thinks that all the riotous disturbances in certain Paris churches over the enforcement of the law separating church and state will not move the French Government from its course. That remains to be seen. Of course the disturbances spring from the hostility of the clergymen and the Royalists to the republic, and the enemies of the republic are at work. The hostility lies over the taking of the inventory of the church property. It really is in the interest of the Catholic Church, looking at it from the mere property standpoint, for the government does not propose to confiscate the church belongings or the church property. They wish to turn it over to regular legal associations formed by the churches for the purpose of holding the property. It may be presumed that some of the church officials do not want to let the people know how wealthy the church is,—how much through the years it has taken from them. But on the other hand, the support of the church must come from the people. Hitherto it has received support from the government. If it meant a lessening of the taxes under the new régimé, the people would fall into harmony with it more quickly, doubtless; but presumably the condition of the French Government is such that the taxes will remain just where they have been, and the church will tax the people in addition for the maintenance of her great army of priests, and through this, dissatisfaction and revolution may arise. If the church would keep out of politics there would be no trouble, but Rome is in politics to stay, and every trouble that may arise, political or social, every calamity that may sweep over France, the church teachers will impress upon the people that all have come because of the attitude of the government to the church. France is certainly not out for a time of peace, she is just entering upon a long war.