10
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER G, 199
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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
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In cither case you must read
THE BOOK OF
PHILADELPHIA
By Robert Shackleton
Never was there a study of the city at once so
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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
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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
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world. Another is an exquisite story of a vision of the Maid of
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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
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This new supplement contains 258
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