To the credit of the French Press, it almost unanimously
denounces M. Floquet's proposal, which is in principle exactly equivalent to a Bill of Attainder against amnestied suspects, and is therefore a gross breach of faith. The Government, however, has resolved to demand power to exile all Princes, and in order to make the Bill popular, has inserted in it clauses making the public exhibition of religions emblems summarily punishable. This astounding proposition, it is true, as yet (Friday) rests only on the authority of the Times' corre- spondent ; but when Orleanists are concerned, he is well informed, and it certainly would never have entered a human brain to invent such a statement. The proposal involves direct religions persecution of the worst kind, and will rouse all men in France of the old faith into a fury of fanati- cism. They.will accept Prince Victor, or the Comte de Paris, or anybody, sooner than a persecuting Republic. We must wait for confirmation of the statement, and for the vote of the Chamber ; but if it is true, and if the Bill passes, it will no longer be possible for the warmest friends of the Republic to acquit her of the charge of deliberate and avowed religious tyranny. Autos da fe are equally crimes, whether the victims be Freethinkers or Catholic believers.
