10 EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER G, 199 ( !'' II' lit w t VI w B, I'.1 ;V. w CS3 " ( rj hi 0 Cardinal CMrtfnned from rrtrrdlnr rata trnor General of Belgium, in which he expresses his miish to have an interview with your Eminence. I de 4 to second hid request as warmly as possible. This faifervew will assuredly be of great use, for the Gen eral, whom I haws had tht honor of knowing for a 1 fang time, is an intelligent, discreet, just and benevo ' tent man, who sincerely feels all wj has written in his ' Utter, and whose heart's desire will be to reppond to iha wishes of the bishops. On my part, I have begged him earnestly to lay to heart the following points: i (I) To allow the Belgian priests who have bean found innocent and who are now prisoners in ' German camps to return to Belgium. 1 (S) To allow the Nunciature free communica- ' tton with tlie Holy See and with the bishops, like U)w free intercourse between the latter and Rome. (3) To facilitate the immediate publication in Belgium of the Encyclical of November 1st. I have acquainted the competent "Armee Bischof with the desires of your Eminence, which I have most earnestly indorsed, concerning the spiritual interests of Flemish prisoners. I hope he will manage to sat isfy claims which are so justifiable. If I can still be of any use to your Eminence in thia matter, it goes without saying that I am at your aervicc; I am aho ready to do all in my power to lighten your cares. Respectfully kissing your Eminence's hand, I have the honor to be your Eminence's devoted serv ant in the Lord, (Signed) FELIX CARDINAL VON HARTMANN, Archbishop of Cologne. NOTE From the very beftiunins of the occupation Mer. Mereier had bejrjred Cardinal von Hartmann to um his influence that such prisoners mlsht bate priests know ing Flemish put at their disposal. Pica for Priests Wins Freedom The Cardinal did not reply till December 28th to the letters of the Governor General and of Cardinal von Hartmann. Von Bissing did not wait for his answer before he acquainted him with the fact that the priests who had been deported to Germany were to be set at liberty nt an early date: General Government of Belgium Offices Stkt. Ic. No. i56. Brutaels, December 9th, 1914. To Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of .Valines, at ialincs. Following on the note which lias been forwarded to me by the head of the civil administration, I liavc the honor to make to your Eminence the following communication: The ministry of war at Berlin has given orders to set at liberty all priests detained in Germany, pro vided no charge has been made againtl them; so that I have every reason to believe that priests who have duties as teachers will return without further delay. An regards Count Cornet d'Elzius, I have taken the necessary steps ivith the competent German au thorities. I shall not fail to let you know the result. Th- Governor General, , (Signed) VON BISSING, Cavalry General. NOTE The Count Cornet d'Elzius had been ar rested for taking up in his motorcar an Englishman suspecting of Bpying. Seeks Liberation of Teachers In Teply to this communication the Cardinal's sec retary, Very Rev. Canon Vrancken, sent to the Gov ernor General a note to call his attention to the fact that his Eminence was also interested in lay teachers. ,i j Archbishop's House, Malines, December 16th, 1914. 1 By dispatch dated December 9th, 1914, Sekt. Ic. No. 456, His Excellency the Baron von Bissing. Gov ernor General of Belgium, has been pleased to in form His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of Ma- United Citizenry Able to Quell Continued From Fate One plebiscite on the question of soviet gov ernment. But they uetcr showed the slightest inclination to take this step. They do not dare to submit bol shevism to a popular vote, because they Very well know that its followers form only a small minority of the population .and that the result would be an igno minious defeat at the polls. And thus the truth has soon transpired in Switzerland that bolshcvism is only the creed of a perm ted minoritj, raging 'at its own electoral Impotence, aud seeking to impose its will by force on the majority of the people. Bolshevist hatred of democracy all Ajver the world is rooted in this right of democratic peoples to chose their own (form and manner of government, which pitilessly exposes the numerical weak ness and esoteric nature of the Bol '" Jehevifit movement. Semlbarbarous Movement ' From the very beginning, too. neople In Switzerland understood that bolshev ism is a foreign, semlbarbarous raovc hnent, conceived by Oriental minds and 'tainted with the subtile criminalitv of "("Oriental despotism. Not for nothing have Lenlne. Lunacharsky. Kameneff And other more or less Mongolian mos iters of Russia dwelt for many years ju their midst. The characteristics and 'metnoas ot tnese luiure tyrants rre when they still enjoyed the reputation of "extreme but sincere Idealists" in other countries. Jt was in Switzerland that the im perialistic, worldrconqucring policy of the Russian Bolshevists was first rc Tealed by their subterranean capture ot the Swiss labor movement. """ The manner in which this cotfquest ivae achieved is very significant and instructive because bolsbcvhm uses the same tactics everywhere, and there is jileaty of evidence that it is employing them with success today in many other "western countries. The Swis Bolshev ist movement was launched long before the Russian revolution at the 'famous yimniernaUl Socialist conference, the Yvhlet organizers of which were Lenine, 'fwtzky and Zinovleff, all three then joylng Suiss hospitality and proi ,"tfction as "Russian exiles," A Thciie three foreigners succeeded in i -splitting the Swiss Socialist party and .. WM0..vu..w H IVlb 1U M1UI a rJearly defined "communist" program. After this successful debut they estab lished, with the heln of the German communist, Muenzenberg, and the Her man, born, naturalized Swiss Socialist, naucn, special sections ot the new radical group in all the larger cities. Secure Grasp on Press -.. At the same time they sit about ob taining control of the Swiss Socialist prt'M. Through Radek now languish- . Joy in o Berlin prison because he im- ' jHuoVntly transferred bis activities from rjuitzerland to Germany and another pt Mi scents named Bronsky, who had wen previously smuggled as reporters fctto the editorial offices of the Yolks lecbt, of Zurich, and the Berner Tag WMeht, Lenlne was soon enabled to ex ?rt ati occult influence over these two lending Swiss Socialist organs, " , j.Qmiuall', other Russiru and German 9Muru(ofs lor at that, time, Lenlne jstpwriai uermnny were worKing Ut mmm to convert wltterwn(t u pMMMvwtn from MHIHI Of as -wr istraauced tato Mercier's ljncs that by a the editorial departments of both papers, among them the younger Alp rod and the famous Madame Hulabauoff. u hunch-backed little old woman, with a remarkable talent for intrigues both political and sentimental. As soon as the Russians felt them selves strong enough, they threw off the mask and ousted the editor of the Volksrccht, Sigg, a moderate Socialist, whose presence interfered with their plans, rcplaciug him bv u Swiss ex tremist named Nobs, whom they knew t ) be n w illing tool in their bands. Ever since the Volksrecht the labor organ of the largest Swit city has been ab solutely, editorially nnd financially, controlled bv the Russians, and It is to day the official organ of the Russian soict in Switzerland. Strikes as Reds Weapon Attempts to launch general strikes were made in November, 101S, and July, 1010, and persUtcut rumors ure current at present that another coup of this sort is imminent. Details of a vast plot to establish a "Red guard" and "council of work men aud soldiers" were discovered by the federal authorities, who also Inter cepted secret orders bent from Moscow insisting upon the paramount impor tance, of paralyzing the life of tho com munity, not so much by strikes in the industries tnemheives as Dy eiriKr m terrupting transport and traffic and thereby automatically bringing all in dustries to n standstill. Both strikes were frustrated before they really had time to develop by the resolute attitude of the government, a timely display of imposing military force and the evident determination of the vast inajoritj of citizens not to allow themselves to be cowed by the strikers. During the November strike three divisions of the Swiss army were mo bilized and sent bv boats and motor trucksfor the raiirouds were not run ningto the chief centers of Bolshevik unrest. I motored from Geneva up to Berne in those days, and all along the road I saw nothing but marching col umns of cavalry aud infantry with their machine guns, batteries of artillery trotting through the villages, ammu nition vans parked in the fields by the wayside scenes as grim and warlike as any ever witnessed at the front, The strikers were just as much im pressed as I was by these martial prep- tors the real Bolshevists among them were cowed, as uoisnevisis uiwuys ure when the despised bourgeois shows that he is prepared to use their own methods of force against them; and upon the great mass of the workers there began at last to dawn some suspicion of thfc criminal way iu which they were being j...l...,i' mrl AvnlMfori hv their foretell seducers. Next morning newspapers appeared again in uerne ana mey cou tained the news that the great strike wan uiii Last July the Bolshevist coup was even less successiui. -luc buio ucver u came general, and the railroads and press were affected only in Zurich and Ttacl thm fnrn Htranphnldft nf Lenlne n Switzerland. Troops were again promptly mobilized and conveyed to the critical centers. In 11..!- a Iwufv nt fannHMreit fttr1lrrH surrounded and attacked a detachment of soldiers entering tne town, vvunout an instant's hesitation th soldiers kill In J six ptfMM.sd wsitdic many TAuiSSdlMf jrfe4 vtrttt rajWwp W f WW' Story of Belgium's Suffering in decision of tho ministry of war at Berlin tho members of the Belgian clergy detained in Germany will bo set at liberty at an early date, on condition that no chargo has been mude agnlnst them. In consequence, His Excellency expresses the hope that ecclesiastics engaged in the duties of teaching will be soon set at liberty. But it is not in these alone that the -Cardinal is interested. His Excellency had asked, besides this, for tho liberation of lay teachers in primary schools), whom Belgian military law puts on the same footing as members of the clergy. The absence of these teachers frcm the country is cuusing great difficulties in tho organization of the people's education. Cardinal and Von Bissing Meet On December 16th the Cardinal had at Brussels an interview with Von Bissing. On tho following day the latter repaired to Malines, where ho was received ut the Archbishop's house. In the course of these two inter views the Governor General reiterated the sentiments he had already manifested in his letter to Cardinal von Hartmann. He insisted especially on the desiro he entertained to guard tho religious interests of Belgium, but he expected in return that tho Belgian clergy and their head on their part would assume an attitude, if not friendly, at least conciliatory. He had already, ho said, obtained tho liberation of guiltless priests de ported to Germany; ho now intended to solicit tho Im perial Government for the speedy release of lay teach ers. In order to show his good-will toward tho ecclesi astical authorities, he gave the Cardinal every facility to communicate with the Belgian suffiagan bishops. The Cardinal thanked Von Bissing for his benevo lent attitude, but called his attention to the fact that the Belgians, whatever might be the feelings of tho Gocrnor General toward them, would not forget the horrors which had marked the beginning of the in vasion. Von Bissing cut him short. He said that he could not discuss the conduct of the German army, which, ho maintained, was fully justified by the attitude of the Belgian people. There was discussed also a report of the com mander at Heidelberg complaining of bad treatment by the Belgians of German doctors who were prisoners, and threatening reprisals on the Belgian doctors and dispensers, numbering 'about thirty, interned in that town. Von Bissing asked the Cardinal to intervene with the Bslgian Government to put an end to this abuse. Lastly, he offered to forward to Cardinal von Hart mann the answer which His Eminence would be pleased to give to the letter written by tho former on Decem ber 6th. "We Assert Our Rights to Independence". As a result of these interviews, the Cardinal sent to Von Bissing the following letter: Archbishop's House, Malines, December 28th, 1914. To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor Gen eral Brussels. Sir I have delayed for some time my reply to Cardinal von Hartmann's letter under date of De cember 6th, in which my most Eminent colleague con veyed to me the expression of your good-will toward Belgium. Your Excellency has kindly offered to for ward my reply, herewith inclosed, to its destination. Since tho above date I have had the honor of entering into personal communication with your Ex cellency, and as the Cardinal of Cologne led me to expect, I can only express myself as satisfied with the dispositions made by your Excellency in regard to myself and in legard to tho matters I had the op portunity and the honor to commend to your notice. In particular, I thank your Excellency for having Radical Movement; Swiss Blaze Way for 1st press, which declared that after this "brutal provocation"- notbiug could prevent a general strike of all the work ers throughout the entire country, and even many staunchly conservative citi zens went about with dismayed faces, believing tbut the "hasty action" of the militarj commander had rendered a rcvolutiou inevitable. But n few hours later the strike was oer and not even an attempt was made b the Bolshevists to put anv ot their big threats into execution. Ttiey had had enough. In both cases the strikers capitulated unconditionally. No concessions were made until after their return to work aud then only n very few of the de mands they had been persuaded to put forward recehed satisfaction. Their crushing defeut caused a crisis among tlie executive committee of the Swiss Socialist party. Threats Frove Mere Bluff These threats also proved mere bluft and far from arousing the resentment of the workers the trial opened their eyes to the real character and motives of their leaders, aud as a result Grimm has not been re-elected to the Swiss Par liament. This brief but truthful account of the Swiss strikes and their sudden ending will. I fear, shock some sensitive people iu Amcricn. Here in the oldest modern democracy I have heard, from all sorts and conditions of citizens, only unre sened praise of tho energetic firmuess displayed by the federal council and the confident hope that it will act again with the same decision if the occasion should arise. The Swiss people are ready to back any measures their government deems necessary to meet the Bolshevist menace because they have seen bolshcvlsm face to faco and entertaiu no illusions re specting it nnd tho revolutionary nature of tho strike movement inaucurated since the war by the ambitious per- vertcrs ot tne workers. They have experienced the sinister In trigues of Lenine nnd bis gang In their own country. They have seen the Swiss labor lenders degraded to be suplno In struments of international outlaws. They have watched the systematic per version ot tne industrious and loyal Swiss workmen by foreign demagogues, the essence of whose propaganda is to teach labor that work is a curse and patriotism a crime. Worldwide Strikes What they have witnessed has made them realize, long before other nations even began to suspect it, that the mys terious, worldwide strike epidemic of the present day is no longer an ordinary traditional labor movement legitimate pressure brought to bear by the em ployed upon their employers in order to obtain fair wages and working condl ditions but a subtle and dangerously Illusive revolutionary maneuver engi neered by invisible plotters to destroy democracy und seize dictatorial power by terrorlzlne the majority of tho Deo- pie by means of a fanatlclzed minority ot workers. Bar Bolshevist Propaganda It is the clear, unequivocal rcallza tlon of the nature of bolshevlsm that has saved Switzerland front Lenine's clutches. In this little mountain re public, where the- freedom of the press is absolute, there is not a newspaper that weald pubMoh the more or ls ::'iz&: ew or itoiXtf. tfeM tniKirtiH lhii their notified me of the release from imprisonment of tho guiltless priests deported to Germany, and I trust you will continue your efforts to bring about also the relcaso of our schoolmasters, who, as I have had tho honor of pointing out to your Excellency, can not bo put in the same category as prisoners of war. I am thankful to your Excellency for having granted me authority to communicate with tho suf fragan bishops of Belgium whenever I may judge It useful, and I am gratified also. to know that you have consented to take steps on behalf of Count Cornot d'Elzius, although these steps havo so far been with out result On my own side, I am still desirous of negotiating " with my Government in order to satisfy tho Com mandant of Heidelberg, who complains of crueltiop inflicted on certain German doctors and who threatens reprisals, as your Excellency will remember, on tho thirty Belgian doctors and dispensers interned at Heidelberg. But to render any steps of mine effective, I ought to know who theso German doctors arc that underwent these indignities and when and where they underwent them. Your Excellency has made It your business to assure me of tho sincerity of your good-will toward Belgium. As a soldier, you will understand how anxious I am to give expression in my own turn to tho feelings with which I am animated toward yourself. My esteem for your Excellency's person, my gratefulness for the caro which you manifest for the religious interests of the country, are deeply sincere, as also, is my desire, as far as in me lies, to lighten and in no way to aggravate the burden of your charge and its responsibilities. Nevertheless, I regard it as my strict duty in tho Interests of truth to add that, no matter what the personal dispositions of Baron von Bissing may be, the Governor General represents amongst us here a usurping and hostile nation, in whose presence we assert our right to in dependence and respect for our neutrality. Further, as guardian oi the moral and religious interests of Belgium, I protest against the acts of injustice and violence of which my compatriots have been tho in nocent victims. In tho letter to Cardinal von Hartmann, here with inclosed and which I invite your Excellency to read, I, as a Belgian citizen and a bishop of the Bel gian Church, give free rein to the indignation aroused in mo by the words spoken by tho Imperial Chan cellor and by Ids travesty of the truth. Kindly accept, Governor General, the expression of my respect. (Signed) D. J. CARDINAL MERCIER, Archbishop of Malines. Editor's Note The Governor General never fur nished any details. "Imperial Chancellor Uttered a Lie" The following is Cardinal Mercier's letter to Car dinal von Hartmann inclosed with tho foregoing: 'Archbishop's House, Malines, December 28th, 1914. To His Eminence Cardinal von Hartmann, Arch bishop of Cologne. Most Eminent Lord The very kind letter dated December 6th, with which your Eminence honored me, gave me lively pleasure and most sincerely do I thank you for the same. I greatly appreciated at the time the steps taken by your Eminence to secure for the Belgian and French priests imprisoned in Germany the same treat ment as is accorded to officers. Your Eminence's intervention on behulf of the guiltless ecclesiastics imprisoned at Munsterlager and at Cello has been successful. All the priests belong ing to a religious order, except two, have been set free I have not yet been authorized to send priests to minister to our compatriots imprisoned in Ger many, but your letter to the "Armee Bischof" gives way into tho columns of uonsocialiBt Ahglo-Saon papers, that would indig nantly aud truthfully disclaim any in tcution of circulating seditious propa ganda. A Swiss editor recognizes Bolshevist propaganda the instant ho sets eyes on it, however artfully it may be camou flaged; he knows to a certainty that the traveler returning from Moscow with a "sympathetic" story of the soviet sjstem would uevcr have been permitted either to icach or leavo Lenlnc'H capi tal if he were not a trusted Bolshevist agent; and he has his country's welfare too much at heart to sacrifice it to n journalistic sensation. Among documents recently found In Zurich on the person of a Bolshevist courier from SIoscow were detailed in structions with regard to communist propaganda in the Swiss army and the formation of a "Red Guard." If the Swiss people were less alert, theso plans might well bo particularly dan gerous iu Switzerland, where military service and experience are universal and every man is allowed to take his rifle home with him after serving in the army. Radicals Store Up Arms It is also believed that considerable stocks of ammunition, as well as many machine guns, were obtained by the Bolshevist plotters from Germany after the armistice, and have been stored away in secret places for use when the Red "day" dawns. But, ulthough these circumstances appear to justify the hopes of thu conspirators, it is reason ably certain that they will be disap pointed. In tho first place, the Swiss citizen army Is iu the main perfectly sound, as the attitude of tho troops during the strikes proved. Furthermore; special precautions have ebecn taken by the military department in Berne to elimi nate all unreliable soldiers in the event ot another mobilization being rendered necessary by a now Bolshevist out break. Lists of doubtful elements have been drawn up and they will not bo mobilized at all. Only loyal and pa triotic citizens will be called to the colors. In general, the Swiss citizen soldiers are bitterly incensed against the So cialist leaders nnd inevitably also against their blind followers amongst the workers. During the mobilization at the time of tho November strike, which the Bolshevists launched when tho influenza epidemic was at its height, more than 1000 soldiers suc cumbed to the terrible disease. With true Bolshevist savagery the socialist press gloated over these un fortunate victims of duty, triumphantly declaring that "the flu had avenged the proletariat." The soldiers who obeyed the call to arms In defense of their country's institutions in those critical days have not forgotten this brutul affront to the memory of their dead comrades, and if the Bolshevists ever start another Insurrection they will find the troops Inflamed with hatred and eager to shoot. Corps for Russia Proposed The fiercely anti-Bolshevist spirit of the Swiss army, which is simply the Swiss people in arms, is illustrated by the fact that not long ago a leading military review published on appeal proposing that a corps of volunteers ibould be formed to fight under the Swiss flag against the Bolshevists in Russia. "It would hi W." eon- enlist under UtAJamSSSan, od ,U (TO follow it into battle for the liberty of the world." It is a pity that this plan came to nothing, owing to the vacillations uud final withdrawal of the Allies in Rus sia, for the example of a volunteer corps of free-born sons of the Swiss mountains battling against Bolshevist tyranny would undoubtedly have done much to open the eyes of Lenine's dupes nil over tho world. Tho distincitvo feature m all this resolute democratic fieht aeainst bol shcvlsm the point I wish to ninUc par- uiruiiMij ujviir ub me riMi ui repetition is that it is not so much action undertaken by the government or by individual authorities as by tho Swiss pcoplo themselves in their overwhelm ing, enlightened majority. After the warning of the recent strikes, citizens all over Switzerland, entirely on their .own initiative and without any kind of official encourage ment, set about organizing a civic guard" to defend the institutions of their country in caso the military forces should prove Insufficient to pro tect them. Many thousands of citizens not liable fto military service have joined this corps, and today there is not a town of any importance without its guard composed of citizens who have pledged themselves to obey a call to arms and to undertake all duties serving to frustrato the triumph of anarchy. The fury of the Socialist press over the creation of this force of loyal citi zens alone Buflices to prove its utility, nnd I am convinced that until the SwIbs example is followed in other countries the Bolshevist menace will never bo definitely surmounted. Mountaineer Inspires People During the last general strike gangs of Bolshevized strikers raged through tho streets of. Berne, forcing all mer chants to close their stores. At first the intimidated burghers obediently put up their shutters. But one old moun taineer, the owner of a small cigar store, calmly refused. When the terrorists threatened to wreck his storo unless he complied, he quietly took his trusty rifle down from the wall behind the counter and said; "The first inau of you that crosses ray 'ireshold will be Bhot down like a dog," The gang of hooligans, at least fifty strong, quailed before the old fellow's shining rlflo-barrel and grim faco and turned tall without a word. That store remained open, and soon most of thu adjacent stores followed its example. Rlnce then the old mountaineer's spirit has spread to the entire tydsa Eeopie, anil nicy mo iw kuiuk w jci iolshevlst bullies and cowards close down the business of the nation any more, now that they have learned that a riflo and a resolute heart are all thot is needed to prevent it. Fortified by the knowledge that the people expect them to act with energy, the Swiss authorities aro naturally not idle in their country's defense. One ot the most difficult problems confronting them Is to prevent foreign Bolshevist emissaries from entering Swiss terri tory. Tourists irritated by the strict passport regulations that have to be ful filled today in order to enjoy a holiday trip in Switzerland should reflect that by these unpleasant measures the Swiss aro not only protecting themselves, but In a great degree all western clvillzar tion against the advance of Russian an archy. yr Switzerland is still tie fnvartU Uad VC paswf er, Luris' agent. - ' teltc ft tte viill.aoo of ta Owls the War me tvery confidence that on this point also we shall at length obtain satisfaction. I had tho honor of interviewing at Brussels and of receiving later at Malines his Excellency the Gov ernor General, Baron von Bissing. He appeared to mo to be all that your Eminence had described and such as ho represented himself In tho letter you had tho goodness to acquaint mo of. I mean that ho is n man both just and prudent, and truly anxious as well to further rather than ob struct the interests of religion in Catholic Belgium. He himself has had tho kindness to Inform me of the release of our imprisoned priests, and ho gives mo grounds for expecting tho speedy return to freedom of our lay schoolmasters. Further, ho has accorded me every facility for seeing my fellow bishops. In my view, ho has accurately defined tho terms upon which the relations between Belgians and him self become possible and desirable. Without expect ing to be welcomed as a friend, ho requests all, more especially the religious authorities, not to render his task heavier than it is. On this point I am in full accord with the Governor General. As in the first days of the war we counseled our faithful to refrain from all hostile acts againbt the enemy's army, so now at this moment we recommend them to abide by the military regulations in so far as these wound neither our consciences as Christians nor our feelings as patriots. "Wc Decline to Waive Our Rights" , Necrthelcs8, it must be clearly understood that, though for the moment we thus bend to the' yoke of a power which is stronger than ourselves, wc proudly decline to waive our rights or our unshakable con fidence in the future. It must be stated, furthermore, that the com parative good-will shown to us at present in no wise atones for the outrages to which Belgians have been so cruelly subjected. Wficn the Imperial Chancellor in his speech on December 2d dared to say, "Wc shall remember after the war the wrongs done to our de fenseless compatriots in enemy lands, wrongs which clash with all the laws of civilization," he went be yond all bounds; and in so far as these words were aimed at Belgium he uttered a monstrous lie. I am personally acquainted with hundreds who have been the victims of wrongs contrary to all the laws of civilization and I am-in possession of details which would make any fair-minded 'man shudder horrors indeed which recall the pagan persecutions of the three first centuries of the Church. I was loath to believe these stories before I personally had made an unbiased and now completed investigation of them. The evidence has been overwhelming; and on my oath I affirm that up to the present hour I have been unable to establish one single act of savagery Inflicted by a Belgian civilian 6n a German soldier, while, on the othejr hand, I am aware of hundreds of acts of cruelty "clashing with all the laws of civilization" committed by German soldiers on innocent Belgians. Your Eminence will understand that patriotism and justice impose upon me the duty to go on protesting against thebe crimes until they havo been punishe'd; and I will add that if you were in possession of all the evidence that I have gathered, your own sense of righteousness would compel you to unite your pro test to ours. Accept, Most Eminent Lord, with the expression of my thanks, the homage of respect and religious devotedness. ' (Signed) D. J. CARDINAL MERCIER, Archbishop of Malines. Editor's Note Von Bissing refused to forward this letter to its destination. He opcnlv admits this in a letter to the Cardinal dated December 31st, which is slven in full in the chapter dealing with the pastoral "Patriotism and Endurance." BE CONTINUED) Rest of World frontier police, great sums of money arc continually smuggled into Switzer land from Russia via Germany and Austria, whence they arc transmitted to provoke strikes and finance labor unrest generally in the West. And Lenine's secret service is not by any means recruited only among noto rious anarchists, of whom It is fairly easy to keep track ; persons bearing resonant titles of European nobility, princesses and counts, are often un marked in palatial Swiss hotels as Bol shevist acents. The soviet dictators have sinister insight Into all that is base and weak in human nature, and they can estimate to u franc the amount of money needed to tempt a decadent marquis or bankrupt barou into their service. They have been particularly eager for some time to enlist persons whoso position or nationality places them above suspicion of any connection wtlh Russian bolshevlsm. and for this rea son "respectable" British and Amer leans aro at present la much greater demand as Bolshevist agents and are far more highly paid for their services than Russians or Germans. So the Swiss police does not always find it an' easy task to detect and deport the secret messengers and propagandists of the soviet There are two ways, so far as I can see, of overcoming bolshevism. First, there is the German wuV. as instanced by the murder of Rosa Luxemburg and Liebknecht, the shooting of Eisner and Huase, tne summary execution ot opar taclsts in Moabit prison, tbe organiza tion of a special police force equipped with hand grenades, gas bombs and uamo tnrowcrx and the institution gen erally of n reactionary reign of terror. This Is a good wuy in Germany. In democratic countries its adoption is neither feasibjo nor advisable. United Action Necessary Then there is tbe Swiss way the de .fenso of democracy through the enlight ened and united will of tbe people to save their historic liberties from de struction by foreign usurpers nnd their dunes. This seems to me the rleht wav. and indeed the only way in which thu democratic nations can repel tbe most dangerous aggression to which democ racy and civilization have been exposed since tho kaiser's hordes over rau Eu rope. The Swiss people have realized that bolshevism is simply an anti-democratic conspiracy of desnotlc adventurers Im- . t ..... -. . . . - - Duea witn tne metnoas and conceptions of eastern tyranny that can only bo defeated if. the majority of citizens ex hibit as much activity and ruthless reso lution to defend their liberties as the Bolshevists and the misguided minority of their followers deploy to destroy them. May other nations also realize this In timet Then, but then only, they may be certain of salvation, for Lenine's campaign of world connuest is based on the fixed belief that he and bis adepts alone possess courage and energy to act ana tnat tne great mass o: citizens iu all democratic countries is sunk in pu sillanimous apathy. If It Is once rondo absolutely slear to the elements of anarchy everywhere, as it nas Deen in tree Switzerland, that th! calculation is erroneous, tbe (Potr oi Dcuweviem wii van au 'M Ij; PPMwd, for McW tht 1 wo aw, Uk aH bvUta, ft HH, Kl BOOKS OF CAPITAL AND LABOR IN TIMELY NOVEL "Iron City" Is, However, Artis tic, Not Propagandists Fiction M. n. fledges has struck on a timely topic for his novel, "Iron City." It deals with the fundamental differences between capital and labor and the ages old clash therefrom. This essential con flict vhen turned to Active uses is al most Invariably made the material for propaganda one way or the other. Tho author of "Iron City," how ever, does hot turn his novel Into a brief. Tie. is mirroring life, not prov ing anything or something. It hap pens that capital a nek labor, lockouts and strikes, autocracy and democracy, plutocracy and proletariat, furnish tho background and the setting for his per sonages and as such, purely .and simply,' he uses them. With him they are simply the 'materials of the artist. He 1IMPC1 thftm QftlAntltfllY' anrl n-i let tn1t.. ... .... ....u. ..u.vt.1., v.j uu. ... wc-niauy H, project nnd propel his chief characters in iui:ir ruiuuunN 01 urnmn. Ana so l'p has written an engagingly good nov el, not without some crudities of form and excesses of sentiment, but despite them, a book of substance and spirit. A labor leader, a magnate's son, a joung professor, nil questing for tho goal of fulfilled ideals are the media through which Mr. Hedges observes liff and interprets democracy these being his theme and design. IHON CtTV. ny M. H Hedsea. New York. Bont & MvcrUM. j A Church Calendar The Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, a Protestant Episcopal order, has complied with raro discrimi nation in their nnthologi.lng and with an appropriate reverential choice for each day lrom the treasures of religious prose and poetry. "A Church Year Boole of Social Justice." There is a selection for each day from Advent, 1010. to Advent. 1020. As the title In dicates, many of the extracts are con cerned with tho new social service and social justice which are greatly Inter esting the church. The book Is brought cut ubder tho auspices of the Social Service Commission of the Protestant Episcopal Church, but the authors arc by no means narrowly restricted to An glicans or Episcopalians, for anioug those quoted arc Pope Clement, St. Catherine of Sienna, Lionel Johnson, among Catholics; James Naylor and John Woolman, the Quakers, and such tadical politicians as George Lansbury and Kier Hardic. A CHURCH TtfAU EOOK OP SOCIAL JUS- .14V.C. new iorK. Vi l'. Dulton & Co. A Christmas Interpretation i'A'WAi.ii..ri -:.i,i" i i.. i- little hook for Ylllfttllta ffltrlnv. It It by James II. Snowdcn and is an in. terpretation of the function and mean ing of Christmastide. Maude and Miska I'ptershnm lifivi mnde mom hntlf.,l decorations. 4 WONDFJIFUI. NIC1HT. By .I.m.. TT Snowdeif. Now Tork; JkfaamlfUn Co. Do you live South or North of Market Street? In cither case you must read THE BOOK OF PHILADELPHIA By Robert Shackleton Never was there a study of the city at once so anecdotal, whimsical, humorous, informing, analytical. Mr. Shackleton explores forgotten nooks, finds a hidden church and an old Pickwickian courtyard. The soul of the city is laid open as you read. You'll want to rush out, book in hand, and explore for yourself, and you will be amazed to find how little you know about your city. This is a fascinating new volume by the author of THE BOOK OF BOSTON THE BOOK OF NEW YORK Drawings by Pullinger arid Boyer, and many photo graphs. Frontispiece in color. Price: Leather, ?7.50; Cloth, $3.00. At All Bookstores THE PBNN PUBLISHING COMPANY, 925 FILBERT ST. PHILADELPHIA Henry van Dyke (e) PlrU MacPaint! The Valley of Vision it A BOOK for the dreamer, the thinker, for the reader whs delights in observing tho spirit of 'life in its best mani festations. There is great need for such a sane and beautiful book in times such as these," says the Bookman. One of the longest of these stories is a vision of three un known days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. It belongs with 'The Story of the Other Wise Man" which has gono around tho world. Another is an exquisite story of a vision of the Maid of Orleans that came to a simple Frenchman. Illustrated. Cloth $1.50; leather $2.50 CHARLES SCRIBNERB SONS ,FIFTH AVE. AT 48ST. NEW YORK BOOKS ' CRAWFORD, by MRS. GASKELL Illustrations by Buoh Thomson. , COACHING DAYS AND COACHING WAYS By TRISTRAM Illustrations bv Iluah Thomson. . THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD, by GOLDSMITH Ulustratlcm by Huok Thomson. HUMOROUS POEMS, by THOMAS HOOD Illustrations by Brock. I THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL AND THE RIVALS By SHERIDAN lllust rations by Sullivan. OLD CHRISTMAS, by WASHINGTON IRVING Illustrations by OaUtcott. Bcaatlrall? bonne1 la pollthtd calf rllt 4iti, 'Price $13.00 Each CAMPION & COMPANY 1313 ' Wiinttv rnbtett , 'immmK ALL SORTS YOUTH'S BLIND LUNGE AT HEART OF ROMANCE "Brule Gods" an UnUsual and Somewhat Disillusion' ing Novel Louis Wilkinson has built up an un usual story, though scarcely a pleasant one, about the first adventures In love of an impetuous' English youth whose blind lunges after romance lead finally to hard disillusionment. This novel, by the author of "The Buffoon" and "A Chaste Man," Is called "Bruto Gods," and, while well filled with Interest, seems hardly to maintain the standard set in the second of its predecessors. Tho young adventurer after romauce is Alex Glaive, who, by contrast with his selfish snob of a father and a coarse elder brother, Is not such a bad rt of chap. The story opens with the elope ment of Glaive's wife. Alec's1 step mother, which throws the household into confusion and awakens in Alec tho most curious and, to him, inexplicable tmo tions. Alec's first real love affair, a tenta tive 'effort which preceded it not having attained the heights of romance, is with Gillian Collctt, a girl of twenty-six years to Alec's nineteen. Gillian loves the boy perhaps more deeply than he docs her, but she makes a sacrifice of her love to save the lad. This, with thf dramatic disclosure of Gillian's rela tionship to the clergyman who Is Alcq'n chief counselor and friend, is the climax of the book. BRUTE GODS. Bv r,ouls Wltklnson. Nw York: Alfred A. Knopf. $S. The Letters of Horace 4th Earl of Oxford (Supplement) Chronologically arranged and edited with Notes and Indexes By PAGET TOYNBEE 2 Vols. $7.75 On Oxford India paper (1 Vol.) $9.00 On handmade paper, 2 Vols. $18.00 This new supplement contains 258 letters or parts of letters, of which 110 aro now printed for the first time, 23 arc now first printed In full, an? 125 aro reprinted from various sources, some of which have only re cently become available. The com plete sot of letters, Including the above supplement. In 18 volumes, $46.00; In 9 volumes on Oxford India paper, J63.40; In 18 volumes on handmade paper, 1193.00. At all booksellers or from the publishers OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS American Branch 85 WEST 32D STREET, NEW TORK for these A f OS nit;
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers