On Sunday, a very important manifesto was issued by the
Pope in view of the French elections, in the form of a letter to the Archbishop of Bordeaux. Its contents are strongly in favour of the Rallied, and against those who still refuse to recognise the Republic. " A prolonged experience has clearly taught us that the state of the country is so changed that in the present condition of France it does not appear possible to return to the old form of power without passing through grave perturbations." The Pope reiterates the fact that it is the duty of good Catholics " to recognise and loyally preserve the constitution of the country as it is established ; " and denounces those " who, putting themselves forward as Catholics and attached to the religion of their ancestors, allow themselves to be carried away by the spirit of party to such a point that they do not hesitate violently to attack, by insulting and public written utterances, the highest dignitaries of the Church, not even sparing the Supreme Pontiff in their bitter criticism." The whole tone of the letter is wise and statesmanlike, and affords a strong con- trast to the bitterness of the " atone-wall" Reactionaries on the one side, and of the Extreme Radicals on the other. No matter what a man's opinions and motives are, it is a step in the right direction when he agrees to accept the form of government by law established. After that he may be a fool ; but at any rate he is not a conspirator.
