The present Government of France is made up of sensible
men, but even sensible Frenchmen lack fortitude to endure opprobrious words. Several of the Bishops, and especially the Archbishop of Aix, having railed violently against the recent proceedings for the dissolution of the Assumptionists, the Cabinet has introduced a Bill punishing such railing with imprisonment up to two years if contained in any pastoral letter, and up to six months if published in any journal. The measure is defended first because the penalties proposed are lighter than those of the Penal Code, and secondly, because the clergy in receiving salaries become functionaries of the State. The first argument is illusory, as the Minister of Justice himself acknowledges that the clause of the Penal Code could not be enforced, and as to the second, are officers who scold the State subjected to imprison- ment P Why should en Archbishop be more reticent than a general
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