dle classes, resisted material forces and stood
between the people and their enemies. But the territorial possessions of
the Church and her temporal power, which seemingly made her position yet
stronger, ended by crippling and weakening her action. As a matter of
fact, if the priest has possessions and privileges, he at once appears
in the light of an oppressor. He is paid by the State, therefore he is
an official: if he gives his time, his life, his whole heart, this is
a matter of course, and nothing more than he ought to do; the citizens
expect and demand his devotion; and the spontaneous kindliness of his
nature is dried up. But, let the priest be vowed to poverty, let him
turn to his calling of his own free will, let him stay himself on God
alone, and have no resource on earth but the hearts of the faithful, and
he becomes once more the missionary of America, he takes the rank of an
apostle, he has all things under his feet. Indeed, the burden of wealth
drags him down, and it is only by renouncing everything that he gains
dominion over all men's hearts."

M. Janvier had compelled the attention of every one present. No one
spoke; for all the guests were thoughtful. It was something new to hear
such words as these in the mouth of a simple cure.

"There is one serious error, M. Janvier, among the truths to which you
have given expression," said Benassis. "As you know, I do not like to
raise discussions on points of general interest which modern authorities
and modern writers have called in question. In my opinion, a man who has
thought out a political system, and who is conscious that he has within
him the power of applying it in practical politics, should keep his mind
to himself, seize his opportunity and act; but if he dwells in peaceful
obscurity as a simple citizen, is it not sheer lunacy to think to bring
the great mass over to his opinion by means of individual discussions?
For all that, I am about to argue with you, my dear pastor, for I am
speaking before sensible men, each of whom is accustomed always to bring
his individual light to a common search for the truth. My ideas may seem
strange to you, but they are the outcome of much thought caused by the
calamities of the last forty years. Universal suffrage, which finds such
favor in the sight of those persons who belong to the constitutional
opposition, as it is called, was a capital institution in the Church,
because (as you yourself have just pointed out, d