New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-08
THE POPE'S PEACE APPEAL
No Response To 1t from Nations
Fighting for a Great Principle.
"a tho Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The Pope seems to be houndering in
diplomacy. in imitation, no doubt, OF the
Kaiser. whose cause, it is claimed, ne Is anX-
ious to assist, and is making oyertures and
suggestions Of peace without inquirlng as to
their being acceptable to the other interests
concerned. Evidently he considered his
bishops in ireland, who have from the start
of the war failed to follow the splendid ex-
ample set by their colleagues in other coun-
tries and urge the young men of the country
to come TO the colors, virgin soil for this
purpose and Bishop O'Dwyer, Of Limerick, as
reported in your valuable columns on 18th
inst, has been urging John Redmond to use
the Irish Parliamentary party to influence the
British government TO accept the peace pro-
posals OF Pope Benedict. Mr.. Redmond
spurned the suggestion, dwelling on the fact
that the German powers, the aggressors Of
this war, show no signs Of even disposition
70 repair the wrong inflicted upon Belgium
and the other Allies
The Italian press has commented. not with
out bitterness, upon the appeal for peace. In
Rome there is even feeling that the appeal
tiations on the part of Germany, an offer
which would win the blessing of the Pope and
the support of the Vatican" It .seemed to be
another pous exercise in spiritual neutral
ity," like those in which the Pope had already
engaged, and which his position appeared to
excuse if net altogether TO explain.
One leading Roman journal welcomes. it is
true the Popes appeal, but presumes that it
Is addressed to Germany and Austria. Nothing
in the document itself warrants this assump
ton. The reference to what has been done
"n other similar circumstances" seems, on
the contrary, to show that the head of the
Roman Church imagines this unprecedented
struggle to stand on the same moral plane as
the wars of the past, and not to consist of
combined effort on the part Of unprepared
and peace loving peoples to resist a premedi-
tated attack upon the rights and freedom Of
two small nations, and, indeed, of Europe.
as not the price too great?" asks the
Portiff. The English, who cannot claim the
especial authority which he asserts and are
determined, without counting the cost, to
fight until wickedness be punished and JUS
tice vindicated, know we'll that there can be
no spiritual neutrality" between right and
wrong. There are moments in the history Of
mankind when its conscience il too profoundly
moved to listen to cries for peace where there
is no peace. There are times when the yearn-
ing Of men for justice the yearning which is
the very root of human belief in immortality
forbids them to weigh any thought of ma
teral welfare or of earthly existence against
their allegiance to that injunction which
commands them to cleave TO what is good and
to eschew evil These are such times, this is
such a moment. For the honor of the faith
Of which the Pope is most eminent repre-
sentative | regret that he should not have
found some word to show that his heart is
with those whose blood is being freely shed
tor principles that are the essence of Chris
tian civilization. II. G.. ARMSTRONG.
New York. Sept. 4, 1915.