tical as well as a spiritual power. With
the passage of this bill there no longer exists the opportunity for
political and ecclesiastical intrigues, which have made the Church a
hatching-ground for aristocratic conspiracies. The severance now
accomplished is not complete as with us. Money will still be
appropriated from the public treasury for the maintenance of churches
in France. But the power derived from the ownership of valuable
estates is no longer in the hands of men in sympathy with the enemies
of the existing form of government.

Another matter which for a time seemed to threaten the peace of France
has been happily adjusted. At an international conference held at
Algeciras, for the purpose of considering the demoralized conditions
existing in the State of Morocco, France and Germany came so sharply in
collision that serious consequences seemed imminent, consequences which
might even involve all of Europe.

France, with her territory adjoining the disturbed state, and her long
Algerian coast-line to protect, naturally felt that she was entitled to
special recognition; while Germany, having invited the conference,
claimed a position of leadership. It was over the special privileges
desired by each that the tension between these two states became so
acute; and finally the one question before the conference was whether
France or Germany should be the custodian of Morocco, insure the safety
of its foreign population, have charge of its finances, and be
responsible for the policing of its coast. Of course the nation
assigned to this duty would hold the predominant influence in North
African affairs, and it was this large stake which gave such intensity
to the game. The final award was given to France, and Germany, deeply
aggrieved but with commendable self-control, has accepted the decision.

The elections recently held in France have afforded an opportunity to
discover the sentiment of the nation concerning the policies, radical
and almost revolutionary, which have made the concluding days of M.
Loubet's incumbency an epoch in the life of France. The result has
been an overwhelming vote of approval. In M. Fallieres, who has been
elected to the presidency, there is found a man even more
representative of a new France than was his predecessor. A man of the
people, the grandson of a blacksmith, a lawyer by profession, M.
Fallieres has been identified with every important movement since he
was first elect