According to the Times correspondent in Paris, the French religious
Orders, which at first intended to submit to the new law on Associations, have now resolved to resist. They have been convinced that submission would injure their prestige; they are reluctant to state the names of their members, many of whom had once much on their consciences ; and they fear lest, if the Superiors are ail to be Frenchmen, the old "poison of Gallicanism " will be reintroduced. Their idea therefore is to hold out till the elections, and then force the Government to expel them, with the result, as they hope, that the electors, seeing their fate, will be seized with a passion of pity. It is impossible to regard such a decision, however mistaken, with- out a certain respect, but we question if it will greatly affect a people who dislike monks. They will say that the law does not affect religion, but only certain organisations, the members of which, as good citizens, are bound to comply with its precepts. Consciences cannot be really wounded by an order to submit corporation statutes for approval, or to send in lists of names which will be known to officials only. It is not, of course, certain that the struggle will occur. The Orders have still some months' grace, and " bluffing " is not wholly unknown in France. Still, one remembers that old reply of the head of the French Jesuits when asked to alter the constitution of his Order,—" Sint at aunt aut non sint."
