Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-24

i STRONG APPEAL OF :
i THE BELGIAN BISHOPS )

from the philadelphia Ledger.

Few documents that the war mas
brought forth reflect the true nobility OF
those who have suffered great wrongs IN
silence. until silence seemed coWataiee'
and have the intense pathos that IS re-
vealed in every line of the appeal OF lHe
Roman Catholic episcopate of Belgium to
their brethren of Germany. the Bel
gians ask for a hearing and for far play.
and demand of the Catholics in Germany
that they shall no longer believe the afro
cious official umn hurled at BelgluEl'
truly the kingdom of grief by the Ger
man government in its various otflclal
publications.
The eloquent appeal, whose LANGUAGE
Gsrd{nt tqr ne a heart aT of sfenei IS Of s' MIaline os
Anthony, bishop of Client; GustaVe j.,
bishop of Bruges: Thomas Louis, bishop
of Namur; Martin Hubert, bishop OF
Iiege; Amedee Crooy, appointed bishop OF
Journal. Every effort has been made by
the German government to prevent ITS
simple recital of the colossal outrages
against faith and civilization perpetrated
by. the German armies in Belgium from
being made public in Germany or any
, where else. In adjuring their members
of their own communion in Germany not
| to accept the official ISLANDERS by which
the German war office added insult to in
jury and attributed atrocities to the Bel
gian as proved, and in denying these al
legged acts of barbarism, the appeal says
that the priests and prelates of Belgium
all refute these tales and they solemnly
declare that the dilemma before the Cath
l olIC ~ tSy all0 lllel dCiS VI vel loil IL
they still profess to accept and incuicate
the lies, is that they must consider the
entire Belgian clergy as perjured." I'm
less they do that, the appeal says they
will nave to accept. and the civilized
world will not be able to refuse, the con-
illusions of this solemn and decisive in
v~eStigation."
The document not only shows how Bel
GUM has been dragooned by the German
army, but how the highest clergy of Ger
many, complacently accepting the German
| nIrnr n ~ ~ 4 am mt nf ~ ~
verified issue In the case Of Belgium as
gospel truth, have done their co-religion-
lists in Belgium a horrible wrong. The
Belgians nave not only been wronged but
refused redress, since, as the appeal notes.
they have been denied a hearing again
and again, while the German government
fetal version as final, have published their
views broadcast. This contrast Is set out
as follows in the appeal:
Now, whereas YOU have all liberty
to flood neutral countries with your
publications. we are imprisoned and
reduced to silence. Hardly are we
permitted to lift up our voices in
side our ~churches; the preaching
m them is checked off; that is,
parodied by paid spies; protesta-
ions of conscience are qualified re-
volts against public authorities:
f% Mnnt we as wr, eent rs beGPpea SO at y 5ne
alone enjoy freedom of speech and
of the pen.
Sent out at last to protest against an
lntolerable situation. just what effect this
noble appeal will have on those to whom
it is addressed is not clear. Naturally,
while sent to the prelates of Germany it
is meant for the head of the church Of
Rome and for the whole world. Judging,
however, from what the appeal itself
notes of the almost callous indifference of
the German bishops to the mournful plight
of their brethren in Belgium, it will fall
on ears Officially deaf by order of the
German government. 1t can not, how
ever, but have profound effect on the
vatican, and will impress all outside Of
German influences as one of the most
moving historic appeals for simple Justice
Ner made.