Foremost among the leaders of the besieging party was the Bishop
of Orleans, Dupanloup, a man of many winning characteristics and
of great oratorical power. In various ways, and especially in an
open letter, he had fought the "materialism" of science at
Paris, and especially were his attacks levelled at Profs.
Vulpian and See and the Minister of Public instruction, Duruy,
a man of great merit, whose only crime was devotion to the
improvement of education and to the promotion of the highest
research in science.[409]
The main attack was made rather upon biological science than
upon physics and chemistry, yet it was clear that all were
involved together.
The first onslaught was made in the French Senate, and the
storming party in that body was led by a venerable and
conscientious prelate, Cardinal de Bonnechose, Archbishop of
Rouen. It was charged by him and his party that the tendencies
of the higher scientific teaching at Paris were fatal to
religion and morality. Heavy missiles were hurled--such phrases
as "sapping the foundations," "breaking down the bulwarks,"
and the like; and, withal, a new missile was used with much
effect--the epithet "materialist.
Pages:
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737