The Topeka state journal., 1916-04-04
Cardinal Assures BeIgians o
Victory in Pastoral.
German Military Governor Sc.
verely Censured Mercier.
CITES PLEDGE OF ALLIES
Says II Have Preached Patri-
Otism" to Captive Nation.
Declares Mission to Rome
"Blessed Beyond Hope"

London, April Cardinal Mer-
cier's pastoral letter which evoked re-
monstrance from Governor General
-on Kissing last month has just been
received here. After expressing JOY
at being back among his fellow coun-
trymen and stating that his journey to
Rome had been blessed beyond what
he had dared to hope, the Belgian car
dinal says:
There are many things which
cannot say. You will understand that
the abnormal position prevents me
from laying before you open heartedly
exactly what is in my soul and what
would be If 1 could speak, of the
strongest comfort But you will not
doubt my word when l say that my
Journey TO Rome has been specially
blessed and that I return happy, very
happy.
Pope ConsOIed Belgium.
The holy fathers kindness was
touching. From the moment of my
. arrival in Rome he took me in his
{ arms and allowed me to tell him ev-
erything. to confide everything to him,
to think aloud before him. Pater1ally
he consoled. enlightened and encourag
ed me. He understands and shares our
care for our religious liberty and our
patriotism"
Turning to the condition of Belgium,
the cardinal describes the eXclama-
tions with which the mention of Bel
gium, was received every where on
his journey. He continues;
Let us even suppose that the fin
ish or the issue of the gigantic duel
now being fought in Europe and in
Asia Minor should be uncertain, one
fact is already esta blished in civiliza-
non and history-the moral triumph
pf Belgium. In unison with your king
and government you have made i'm
4dense services for your country. Peo-
ples abroad understand your spirit
OF sacrifice. you are admired. and your
generation has taken its place glor-
iously in history. Is not that a con-
qnest, my brethren? Are you not the
most glorious of conquerors?
Many Broken Hearts.
a. know that you weep, that the
-hearts OF mothers and wives are brok-
en-. that lives are being lost on the
banks of the YSer The imprisonment
Of our nation on our soil is sadly pro
longed. You will admit l have never
hidden my fears from you. 1 lave
preached patriotism to you, but from
the beginning. 1 have let you see that
accordinG to my presentiment our
brdeal would be long and that success
would be attained by the nation -hich
Should most endure. The conviction,
both natural and supernatural, of our
final victory is more deeply then yer
anchored. in my soul
I'VE shall win, but we are not yet
al the end of our sufferings. France,
Great Britain and Russia have pledged
themselves to make no peace until Bel
GUM has recovered her entire inde-
pendence and been largely indemnified-
Ealy in turn has adhered to this
Biedge. Our future is not in doubt
but we must be prepared for it"
: The pastoral concludes with an in
function to the people to trust in God
and to continue insistent in prayer.
Takes Cardinal to Task.
on March 90, a letter addressed by
Governor General Won Kissing TO Gard
NAL Mercier in connection with the
hatter's pastoral letter was published
The letter said in part:
lt-..Your eminence in pastoral letters.
fndulges in political statements against
which I decidedly protest. 1t is quite
should raise unjustified hopes regard
ing the issue of the war. Thus, for
Instance. your eminence has mem
t4oned inaccurate utteTances of per-
SONS who are not in touch with events
End who certainly cannot be called
Experts.
H Warns Against Politics.
I'm these circumstances l shall
henceforth sternly prosecute any pol
hical activity and any stirring up of
hostile sentiment against the author
tty of the occupying power, which
autnOr1tN IS leElIllndLe according TO
International law
III warn your eminence to desist
from political activity
report published in Berlin regard
ing Cardinal Mercier's pastoral letter
said that according to advices from
German officials in Brussels the card
inal stated in it that if he once
doubted the final victory, his faith had
now been restored as a result of his
conversations with North Americans
and South Americans who had in
spired him with unshakeable conf
dence in Belgium's victory
Sentence Printer to Jail
The Koelnische Zeitung announced
on March 81, according to news dis
patch from Berne that the printer
who printed Cardinal Merciers pas
toral letter, had been sentenced to
years Imprisonment