Notes

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 14, 5 April 1906, Page 18

Notes

Storm Signals The crusade against religion in France has (as stated by us some time ago) resulted in the transfer of a great amount of capital from France to ■ other countries. An English contemporary writes :—: — 1 The most singular ~thing in connection with the war against Christianity " in France is" tlie amazing with- „ drawals from the National Savings Bank. The " Journal Officiel " for the week ending February 10 registered 'an excess of withdrawals of 6, 700; 223. 9 8 francs over the amount of the deposits entered. The excess ( of DEPOSITS for the corresponding period in 1905 reached - the total of 2,500,000 francs, whereas this yearHhe excess was, ob WITHDRAWALS.- We also learri^UhatJ-'on

account of the religious persecution and of, the' general feeling) of alarm and unrest, the (British hanks and safe— deposits in London are so repleted with gold and silver"" plate and jewels sent over from France for safety hy members of the aristocracy and wealthier classes, -that they already announce they will have difficulty in receiving any more. All these are signs which escape the average correspondent's attention, but which are affording great anxiety to the French Government. You'cannot overthrow a religion which has lasted for fourteenhundred years and has withstood several great revolutions, without upsetting the' whole social system of the , country. The curious part of the affair is, that the London papers, even when they are Conservative, praise the French Government as the best the world lias ever seen, and hold it up as an example worthy to be copied, regardless of the fact that the majority of its ministers are Socialists of the reddest type, and blatant Atheist-, into the bargain. 1 ' Anarchy and despotism,' says Dr. Ireland, ' are the Rcylla and CJiarybdis of the social order.' .France has long been cruising back and forth from the one to the other— from red revolution to the tyranny of an autocrat or of an oligarchy. And, like Moore's fickle lover, it has been ' to, one thing constant never. 1 It will be interesting to watrh the next trim of the sails and movement of the political helm. And 'in the meantime wo may 'console ourseb.es with the Prince de Broglie's reminder : ' Persecution has its uses, in passing through the crucible the courage and the virtues of individuals.' And we pray that France, that suffers as nobly as the caily martyrs on the foreign mission-field, may not be wanting in courage and virtue at home.