The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-12-24
BEL CUM SPEEDS
HER THANKS TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE
TOUCHING LETTER FROM PRI-
MATE is SENT TO AND RE-
cEIvED BY CHAIRMAN OF THE
RELIEF COMMITTEE.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

London, Dec. 2S.-Cardinal Mer-
cier, the primate of Belgium has adj
dressed the following letter to Her
bert c. Hoover, chairman of the
American committee for relief in Bel
GUM:
81 understand you have 50 kindly
addressed anew an appeal to the gem
erosity Of your countrymen to pro-
vide clothing for our SO painfully des-
titute people. Nconfess much pro
ferred to shake hands with my Amer
lean brothers in token of thanldulness
of what they already have done than
that we should again stretch to them
the open hand to beg.
"Your country has already done so
much for us; it has given US much
in food and above all, in personal CO.
operation for our economic rehabili-
tation; it brings US this help with
such moving and complete spon-
taneity that we have long desired to
convey to your people a full express
sion Of gratitude, untarnished by re-
newed appeals to their generous i'm
! pulses. But you yourself, dear friend,
| invoke us to appease our scruples
and therefore l, knowing better than
any one the restitution Of our Bel
gian people should feel myself traitor
to my duty as their pastor if, through
an exaggerated feeling Of natural
pride, I should restrain from also
pleading for those who are suffering.
A TOUCHING SIGHT.
"Only yesterday tears arose in my
eyes when, crossing the street in Ma
lines, met party Of strong, honest
workmen with STOPPING heads, their
eyes fixed on new clogs These were
men habituated to the support Of
wives and children through their own
labor, but had been for fifteen months
| without work. The last of their saw.
ings are exhausted. Their shoes were
| worn out and the relief committed
had distributed among them some
clothings, with the injunction to use
the leather rags from the worn Out
shoes as Innings to keep their feet
from dampness.
"You Americans who prize highly
the value Of labor and 30 possess tht
natural impulse Of earning confor'
and success by your own exertions
will well understand the mental sui:
ferfng Of noble souls forced to de-
pend on charity Therefore, you alst
know how to hide your hberalitiel
under anonymous wells and how +.
distribute them through hands as del
icate as they are discreet. Interprete,
of the feelings Of the Belgian popula
ton, we thank you as much and NOR
for your way Of giving than for TIL
gifts themselves. May add that ont
of the greatest benefits, for which
we shall feel eternally indebted to TIL
American people, win be the fixing o.
, America the admiring attention o
i the Belgians. The Belgian peopl
have learned to know you well, t.
look at you in beautiful light, to fee
l to some extent what they would gail
!. in following your footsteps.
WILL WATCH AMERICAS
> when the hour of reconstruction
comes we will invoke them to kee,
their eyes on your great land Of fe
cundating initiatives; your land Of am
bition for more comfort, not throug
. covetousness of other peoples wealth
but through tenacious will to indivi
{ dual endeavor, with a patriotism tina
1 ignores civil discord and draws it
!. strength from a collective love 70
national progress; yes we will invok
3 our people to initiate your high vi,
r tues and we are confident that on
Q benefactofs will find in this spreadin
t of their own moral influence thei
3 real reward.
. "P1ease accept, dear friend, the e.
a preston Of my high esteem and de
b voted gratitude.
/