The French Senate, supposed to be so Conservative, is on
clerical matters as Radical as the Chamber. There was a, great debate on Wednesday as to the attitude Government ought to adopt towards the Bishops who treat it with dis- respect by warmly defending the right of Churchmen to make pilgrimages to Rome. We have discussed the debate else- where, but may mention here that M. de Freycinet insisted that the Bishops were stipendiaries, and therefore could not be allowed an "unhealthy publicity" for their views. He threatened new laws for their coercion, and the Senate by 211 votes to 57 carried the following menacing order of the day; —" The Senate, considering that the recent demonstration of a portion of the clergy might jeopardise social peace, and constitute a flagrant violation of the rights of the State, and confiding in the declaration of the Government, counts upon its using the powers at its disposal, or which it may think necessary to ask of Parliament, in order to impose an all respect for the Republic and submission to its laws."
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