The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-09-11

peacnment OF the latter, who shows
a callous indifference to the threaten
ed calamities his countrymen are nov
facing.-Ed. I. W.
Limerick, August 4, 1915.
Dear Mr.. Redmond: The appea
which Our Holy Father the Pope has
addressed to the belligerents in the
awful war, which is devastating the
world, will be read with the sympathy
and backed up by the moral support
of millions of the best of the human
race. Amid the din of arms, in the
tumult of passion, and all the immeas
urable horrors Of this revolving human
slaughter the voice of the Vicar OF
Christ comes like an air from Heaven
and the very mention of Peace is like
a rift in the clouds. bringing with II
the hope of Gods mercy for the strick.
en- nations Of the earth.
But amongst them all, none will re.
ceive this solemn appeal with DEEPER
gratitude and reverence than our own
Irish people and for that reason /
venture to address you, whose respon.
sibilities at this moment are so heavy
and beg Of you to throw the weight of
your influence strongly on the side of
peace:
1t is not easy to see what objection
any of the belligerents can take to the
proposal of the Pope. He does not ask
any of them to make any concession,
to undergo any humiliation, to abate
one jot of what it considers to be it's
Just claims. He simply asks them
with the experience of the woeful
year that has just closed, to confer,
either directly with one another, or
through some neutral, and see If it is
possible to find terms, or even an ap.
proach to terms, on which they might
put an end to this disastrous war.
Unfortunately, one voice of passion
has been raised already, without. we
may hope, due consideration, to make
the shocking and un-C Christian state.
ment that to talk of peace at the pres.
ent moment is immoral. There was
never a more cruel and heartless un.
truth. Now and at all times, blessed
are the peacemakers." But now more
than ever, when the world is running
red with human blood, and suffering
millions, in the anguish of their hearts,
are praying daily to God to put an end
to the horrors of this abominable war.
Our Holy Father speaks words of
sober truth and reason, and the i'm
partial judgment Of neutral nations,
and much more of history, will utterly
condemn those who refuse to hear
him.
Some Very Pertinent Questions.
At crisis such as this, where is the
wisdom of repeating, like parrot cry,
that no proposals for peace can be en-.
tertained until Germany is beaten to
her knees? Delenda est Carthage is
very fine, If you were sure Of being
able to do it. But is there compe.
tent man in England this moment who
is confident of being able to crush
Germany? Or to crush her at cost
that would be less ruinous than defeat
1t may or may not be desirable to
annihilate German power; but that IL
not the question now, but is 1t prac
ticable? Proud and arrogant talk gives
no help. and revolts the consciences Of
men; and people who set out to smash
Germany should ask themselves
whether the defeat of Russia, and the
weakening of France, and the state O
things at the Dardanelles. have not re
Gently somewhat altered the condition.
Of the problem
A few months ago they counted will
confidence on the triumphant progress,
Of the Russian "steamroller." Tha
machine is not now quite so efficient
Then great hopes were placed in tn,
accession of the Balkan States to tn,
side Of the Allies. The turn of event
in Poland will probably show them tn
merits Of the other side, and altogeth
er he should be sanguine man VIII,
still counts on an overwhelming vic
tory for England.
1t is time to look facts in the face
whether we like them or not. There 1
no use in shutting ones eyes and, 1
blind conceit, rushing to ones ruiz
All sides, and Germany as we'll as tn
rest, have had profound lesson i
the terrible destruction of this colo,
sal war, and, no matter how defian
their words, we may be sure that I
their heart Of hearts. they must lon
for some way out, with honor IL nc
with victory.
The prolongation of this war Il
one hour beyond what is absolutel
necessary is q crime against God, an
. humanity. and the judgment Of me-
trail nations, and still more Of 20
terity, will be pronounced heavi