New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-15
Primate of Belgium Tells
Won Kissing He Will
Never Yield.
REMAINS FAITHFUL
SHEPHERD OF FLOCK
Cardinal Grows Sarcastic in Re-
plying to German Governors
Warning Letter.

Brussels. April Il Cardinal Mer-
cier. Primate Of Belgium, has sent
reply to the letter of General Won Bis
sing. Governor General in the occupied
portions Of Belgium. protesting against
statements in the Lenten pastoral of
the Cardinal and warning the prelate
that he must cease his alleged political
activity. The Cardinals letter says:
1T behooves us. Excellency. in an
swering the letter it pleased you 70
address US, 20 render homage 10 the
courtesy you have shown TO the ven
Grated head OF our Church.
The faithful servant Of our Lord
Jesus Christ. we obeyed the summons
OF His representative on earth. but
you know. Excellency. that il was not
We who solicited the great honor OF
laying our homage az the feet Of his
holiness. Allow US. then, even smit-
ten as we are by admiration before
the warlike pomp surrounding you and
the brilliant staff which. like King
Saul you have attached to your per
son. nevertheless 20 retain our full
liberty Of judgment.
"Tha: liberty in the troubled hours
through which our country is passing
We cannot and will not relinquish. In
dong so we remain faithful shepherd
o. that flock for which our Lord has
given His life.
Better TO Obey God than Man.
I'VE shall follow the teaching ofe:he
noble successor Of 81. Peter. His Holt
ness Leo XIII. In his encycllcsl ne
instructed Us FOR Obeylng the civil au-
thorities when they give orders mani
testify contrary 20 the natural Divine
law: II any one distinctly finds him
self faced with the alternative o. break
inc The commands Of God or those Of
prince. he must follow the precepts
Of Jesus Christ and answer as did the
Apostle. II is better 10 obey God than
man
"To act thus IS not 20 merit re-
proach for disobedience. for princes,
when their will is IN opposition TO the
Divine Will and law. exceed their power
and corrupt justice. Hence, their su-
thoritv is not binding. because when Z
IS not just u ceases.
"Txcellency. your authority cannot,
ther. be exercised. except IN accord
arce with justice. Ecce in lustlua
regnabit Rex. Behold, in justice the
King will reign
"We render unto Cesar those things
which arc Casar's for We pay you
-. silent homage due 20 strength, but
we keep closed 20 your encroachmcnts
the sacred domain Of our conscience
the last refuge OF the rightful OPP
pressed.
Dcnunciation Deliberate.
az. was not. Your Excellency may DC
euro without deep reflection that we
denounced 20 the world the evlls WIN
which our brothers and sisters are
overwhelmed frightful evils; 'ndeed,
atrocious crimes, the tragic horror VI
which cold reason refuses 70 ADMIT.
"Ru. mad we not done 50, we should
~. have felt ourselves worthy 10 ne
Inc succcssor Of the apostles VINO con-
ver.ed the Belgian Gaul, nor me Splr-
final son Of those who by tneir 'aOOi
made illustrious the see OF MaIltes' ~
which the library Of Louvaln loriheU
the purest jewel, the lnestlmaole' price
less treasure. -:. !,
Tn the almost fatal position IN
which our people are plunged we mace
nur voice heard, and hoped that our
thoughts would be pondered on by you.
But 4 prince shall have tnouFn's
worthy Of prince. and sha" htrp
his authority over the chieis Of III"
people. .1 .ho c,ies
r. @o,ow II our people. Patriot. We
bsyc sought 20 heal the wounds OF
80, countrv. Bishops. 10 have de-
,a..,ccd crimes committed against
our innocent priests.
@Excellcncy. We have the honor
etc.