The attitude of the laity towards the Encyclical has been
curiously illustrated by the conduct of the Conseils Gael-aux, those provincial Councils which in France represent naked public opinion. M. Conabes was elected President in his depart- ment by 30 votes out of 31, and in most other districts pro- moters of the Separation Law have received the same honour. At Lyons, that most Catholic of cities, a resolution demanding the strict enforcement of the law was carried by 15 votes to 6. At Chartres Senator Labiche, who has been President for thirty-five years, was ejected for voting against the law. And at Dijon the Council resolved that France could accept no injunctions from abroad, whether from a temporal or spiritual Sovereign. The single exception was the Council of Maine-et- Loire, which sent to the Pope a respectful assurance of its fidelity. The laity of France, it is clear, whatever they may think of the Separation Law in itself, are utterly hostile to ,
Ultramontane dictation. 6
