New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-26
A BEwILDERED FROTEsTANTs QUERY.

A
WHY DID NOT THE POPE STOP THE CUBAN
TROUBLES LONG AGo'
"a .hs Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. benighted Protestant. and woman at
that. sincerely seeks enlightenment In common.
ono might almost say. with civilized humanity.
onlv O. few short weeks she hailed with great
hopefuness the efforts which the Holy Father was
said to be making In the interests OF peace-for
the averting OF this terrible war. which now alas!
faces us IN It's erimmest features IT seemed so
emnently fitting so in keeping with tho office
which he holds and the esteem in which he Is held.
the thought was lovely. so harmonious. 1t struck
a chord Of almost universal response. for there
WAS TO her knowledge. but one voice lifted ofi-
ciaIly and enthusiastically IN public protest She
shared with tens OF thousands great dlsappoih1'
ment at the futility of the EFFORT.
All the time many puzzling questions were press
ing themselves In on her. but were silenced and
swallowed up the longing for the blessed result
which It hoped this potent influence might
secure And now. to-day. in the papers she reads
that with ..the permission and under the inspra-
ton. II not the direction * the Pope. "a Novena
IL to be held by Archbishop Corrigan for the
bringing about Of this same desired end-peace!
And the poor Protestant mind is more than ever
puzzled. The Pope Is surely Pope-Holy Father IA
nearer and dearer TO faithful Catholics
alike TO Spaniards In Spain. Spaniards IN Cuba and
Cuban spaniards. They all own and claim him as
their Spiritual Father and head His sway is alb
eoute. undisputed. Would not any merely human
father feel that he had not only the right but the
duty. to restore peace. II the children OF his dis
tracted household were fighting each other TO the
death In the nursery or In any other part Of the
house? Would not he be Justified by common con-
sent In every effort. matter how strenuous and
severe. TO compel the ouarrels TO cease-n fact to
obiige them to realize the truth of dear old Prot
sstant DR.. Wattss nursery hymn
Children. you should let passions rise:
Your little hands made scratch each other
And yet. for all the years of this deadly Cuban
struggle. Protestants have never heard Of the ex-
ercise OF this parental authority. One does not
speak of personal applications and private prayers
1T is not to be doubted that they have been many
and earnest-but OF the public and outspoken voice
the summons the call. to which they must have
listened Were not Maceo and are not Gomez
and Garcia. Roman Catholics. equally with Weyler
and Blanco and those whom they represent? Has
the Holy Father ever tried his supreme spiritual
parental power to reconcile all these wayward
children. and to make them cease this cruel. brutal
struggle? Why has he waited all these years to
oder the intervention which they surely would
have never dreamed OF calling interference?
way does not come. ever now. TO still the raging
9 battle between the opposing factions Of his one
424f, rather than between them and the great
No43pn which has risen at last. TO the supreme
2x4oSity OF bringing to an end so ungodly and un-
nave hailed at any moment the slightest inti-