THE FUTURE OF FRANCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 218, 29 June 1877, Page 11

THE FUTURE OF FRANCE.

"Man proposes but God disposes," so in his wisdom said Ihomas alUmpis. It by no means entered into the plan of Prince Bismarck and the Emperor William that the war in which they conquered France should lead to a renewal of religious fervour in the country subdued by them. This was the last thing desired by these men who have proved them-

selves such ardent enemies of the Church ; but their desires are of little account before the inscrutable purposes of Heaven, and, like the false prophet of old, where they meant to curse they have been forced to call down a blessing. It becomes clearer day by day that the former piety of the French people bids fair to revive in all its vigor, and even in the legislative chambers religion has made good its standing to such a degree that the German Chancellor finds himself obliged to declare against the danger of a "clerical and monarchical cabinet."

We do not know that since the great Revolution France has ever been so near an era of hope, as that which there now seems to be some probability that she may enter upon, for a true re-action appears to have set in against the reigu of impiety that arose at that terrible crisis, and has ever since, ia a greater or lesser degree, continued. The Revolution was the outcome of the " Reformation," for, although that questionable measure, the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, seemed to give the deathblow to Protestantism, a kindred spirit lingered in the country and broke out in the century following, having for its object the total destruction of religion. Ecrasez Vlnfame, such was its war-cry, the motto of its prophet, and faithfully did it act upon this inscription of its banner. The altars of God were overthrown amidst horrors hitherto inconceivable, and in their place was established the worship of reason — how carried on it were shameful so much as to narrate. And yet there are not wanting now-a-days apologists for this time of Pandemonium broken loose. It was " truth clad in hell-fire " — truth that is one and cannot change its aspect ! It was necessary to the amelioration of mankind— to the emancipation of the human mind (of which emancipation, nevertheless, it was the effect and not the cause) ; for our " free-thinkers " adopt the maxim, with which they reproachfully accredit others who abhor it— "The end justifies the means;" and, indeed, to our enlightened age it often suffices to write down "surgery" for murder. The fact is, it turned Europe into a battlefield, and produced evils only. " That fanatic and destructive character," says Schlegel, "which distinguished the revolutionary struggle in its origin remained the same, though somewhat modified in its form during the time of the Imperial conquests; and the general resistance of the nations of Europe, down to the final triumph of the allies, retained to the last the character of a religious war, carried on in defence of all thai was most sacred to humanity." But the worship of reason, so conducted, could uot last. It required the excitement of wild orgies to make endurable anything at once so wicked and so absurd ; nor could the wellbeing of society prosper without the control of religion ; therefore, Napoleon, with a thought "like an Austerlitz Battle," re-established the Church iv his empire. Yet the act of an isolated politician, however keen-eyed, by no means corresponds with the victory of an independent party; the importance of the one towards illustrating the mind of the nation, falls far short of that of the other.

It is true that France has never been wanting in a multitude resolved to maintain the practices of religion at all costs ; even in the fiercest days of the Terror, a faithful remnant was everywhere to be found. The temper of the people, indeed, leans singularly towards religion, and often where this is not professed, its beauty is still fully recognised. We know of no nation in which infidelity seems more productive of sadness, and where intellectual power, when unaccompanied by faith, appears less to satisfy the heart. The past seems ever dearer than the present, and the future affords no prospect of delight. A vein of tragedy may be detected frequently underlying the lightest utterance, and worldly distinctions yield no genuine happiness.

" De tout laurier un poison esfc l'essence." It seems as though the spirit of St. Louis hovered over the raeu of genius who are of his nation, and forced them, though they knew it not, to recognise that the stain of mortal sin is greater than that of leprosy, as he was wont to teach. The importance, then, of a triumph of religion at present, is not to be measured by its re-establishment by Napoleox, or by anything that may have taken place at the restoration of the Boubbons, when pressure from a master's hand, or from without, was exercised. Such a triumph now would be the genuine act of the people themselves, and would be a noble guarantee of the great future lying before the country —a future which we doubt not will arise— but of which this would be the immediate presage. Well, then, may the dogged Bismarck frown on the prospect which bids fair to undo all

his work of destruction, already evidently far too feeble for his pleasure ; and well may the friends of France pray that the promised victory may prove no delusion ; for, as Schlegel again says, " It is by a religious regeneration that the greatest men of that kingdom, who are well-wishers to their country, and have in view its permanent well-being and not the idle and transient splendour of military glory, should endeavour to secure the future destinies of France."