Church and State in France
By Editor
The principle underlying the separation of Church and State, the true principle of religious liberty, which ought to obtain in every government, is not that which is moving the Vatican in this issue. If it were we would find that the Vatican itself would be the most forward actor in bringing about the absolute separation. The faith of the Church of Jesus Christ is indeed pitiable when she must leave the All-power of her divine Master and depend upon the weak, puny arm of the State. We most earnestly hope that the great crisis in France may be settled without bloodshed, but we hope that it will be settled right. We also ardently wish that the French statesmen may look upon these questions, not in any enmity toward Roman Catholicism or any other religion, but consider it from the broader standpoint of what ought to be, as expressed by U. S. Grant, "Keep the Church and State forever separate." At the present time the government is determined to execute the law, and notwithstanding the denial of the Catholics in this country, the news comes to us through friendly sources that there are very many Catholics in France who are in favor of yielding. Whether the Vatican can hold them to resistance to the law will be a question which must be settled within the next few days.