The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-23
SEDlATIcN BY THE POPE.

Tho efforts Of the Holy Father in The
interest OF peace are deserving Of the
highest commendation from men Of
every creed and Of every nation. There
il, and ever will be. room for the peace
maker, it matters not how great the
offenso or even how holly the war may
Ee raging, says the Church News. nf
Washington, d. G. Is it not, then.
strange that any one could have felt
aggrieved because Leo XIII used his
coed offices to prevent war between
tho United States and Spain?
Tho heart OF the man who desires
war when it can be honorably averted
must indeed be hard; for war at all
times is to be avoided when it is posi-
tonal honor
When tho great powers presented a
noto to the United States in behalf Of
peace no objection was raised. In fact,
our people regarded it as an evidence
CT kindness upon their part; but when
tho Pope who is ever the friend Of
peace. used his good offices to prevent
war. q protest went up from the bigOts.
as though the Holy Father were cl-
gagged in an effort to advance his own
interests at tho expense Of the repub-
lie
Leo XIII loves America, and more
than onco no has shown his love, and
by his late efforts to prevent war and
thus save tho lives CT thousands of our
people he has again proven his friend
ship. We have been assured that the
president does not want war: provided,
o. course. it can be averted with
honor. The thoughtful people Of
America do net want war. and Leo
NIL only labored to accomplish their
desire.
There is probably no other country
on Garth in which the efforts Of the
Holy Father to prevent war would be
SO entirely misunderstood as in Amer
ica but we may hopo that his efforts
to avert war have been properly APP
prociated by tho authorities.
When we all know how terrible war
is. and what it costs in blood and treas
llrc. wa should thank the disintercsted
power or individual who tries to pre-
serve peace. No sensible good citi
zen ever desires war. and war is only
to Ia declared when it cannot be
avoided, and these who help to smooth
tho way for peace are friends worthy
OF the highest appreciation. Such the
Holy Father has proved himself to BE-,
time to reflect upon his course, which
it. il said has been misrcprescntcd. he
will DO thanked for his labors in be-
half of peace.
At time OF writing no one can deter
mino what tho practical effect Of the
PGpa's effort will he. However, he
has accomplished enough to show how
he is to use that influence in behalf of
peace. Tho great powers tried to pour
oil upon the troubled waters, but i'll
vain. Their letter made but littlo I'M
preston. but when Leo XIII used his
influence with Spain soon there was Il
response. and at his bidding the queen
regent, granted an armistico in Cuba.
To Leo Nil tho credit is due for .hc
what tho effect may be. we are reason
ably certain that it will ultimately
bring peace. even should war Genre
first
Tho present difficulties between tho
United States and Spain and the action
Ct tho supreme pontiff show the ma
jcsty and power Of tho Pope In their
beauty and strength. 1t matters not
how excited may DO the passions of
men the papacy is ever calm and Sc
rene 1t is srhonlcd in the history Of
storms and revolutions. It has felt
tho fierce of ten thousand tenlpests.
and they have ever rolled back to the
depths from which they came. while it
remained like g rock. impregnablc.
Men delight to insult tho Pope aud
smile at his weakness, but, conscious
Of his own strength. he can afford II
permit them to enjoy their ignorance.
They may deride the papacy, but they
cannot escape its influences nor deny
themselves the blessings it secures
for all men. This is true. because the
Pope is the vicegerent Of Jesus Christ
and because ho is with the church
and her visible head at ali times, In
every danger. and III every victory.