Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-07-24
CARDINAL SAYS U. s. MUST 4 ACT =
Neither villa Nor Carranza is Capa
BILE of Saving Country, De-
clares Prelate. /;

| Westminster, Md, July 24-Cai
dinal Gibbons, who spent the eighty
first anniversary of his birth at tn
home of former Senator T. Herber
Shriver, near Westminster, in an in
terview, showed deep concern IN tn
great world problems. His first sub
iect was the Mexican question, whlc!
he said would not. down. Speaking D
the practically unchanged conditions
| so far as our nation is concerned, h'
said: "One year ago today we taike'
of the then condition in Mexico.
then expressed to Senator Lee m!
opinion that neither Carranza no.
Villa were capable of feeling the IN
fuence of lofty motives of patriotism
and that they would not heed the
Presidents message. The end has
justified my opinion. / am convinced
that neither expostulation, entreaty
nor advice will ever have any
effect on those who are now
assuming the leadership in
Mexico. I fear that the sword Is
the only argument that can have an!
weight, and believe that sooner o.
later some form of intervention mus;
be pursued by our country.
In speaking of the war in Europe
the Cardinal referred to the differen'
ces of opinion as to the source OF re.
sponsibility for it's beginnings. B.
many it's inception is credited to tho
vaultng ambition Of the German En-
pire, while those who sympathize will
Germany reply that the commerce o.
Germany was being threatened an';
restraint put upon her legimate noln
of expansion commercially. In thl:
connection he said:
zone year ago Europe was al;
peace; there was no horror of war, nc
shattered cities, ruined eathedralS,
devastated fields and forests, weep
ing women or breaking hearts. | had
just returned from Europe. Only .
month previous, in June, / had seen
and talked with King Albert of Bel
gium and his Queen, and they were
happy in the devotion Of a people who
loved them. Their nation numbered
only 7,a0G,G00 people, but Ehey Wer:
industrious, frugal, happy and con.
tented-everywhere were beautiful cl-
ties, smiling villages and fertile fields.
Little did the King and Queen or tnc
world dream what a change wouit.
come in few months. Had Belgium
;acquiesced.to the demand of Germany
;and permitted free passage of hei
armies they. would have marched
straight to Calais and dictated term
to the world. If the. allies should
prove victorious Belgium should. be
recompensed fourfold for what she
has sacrificed. Our prayer goes uF
each:day, and mall our churches that
Cod may bring to; a speedy end this
dreadful war"
Asked his opinion Of the need Of :;
strong standing army in the United
States, he replied with unusual force;
ave do rot want it; we do not need
it. Let the energies of our people be
directed TO peaceful pursuits; iei
their lives be given to commercial de,
velopment and educational uplift; &C
not divert a great mass of men intt
professional soldiery. Let each Stat>
have it's thoroughly equipped and wei
trained militia under the supervision
of the National Government and W.
will have an army, if emergency
should arise. A well-trained militia
and our coast properly and fully for
titled and garlisoned is what we need