The menace., 1917-12-01
HOPES WAR WILL GIVE
ITALY TO The Pope
Prior to Appointment New German
Chancellor Had Declared for
Restoration of PapaI States


Roman Catholic seemed rather singu-
lar, even to some who insist that the
kaiser's alliance with the vatican
would be a physical impossibility be-
cause he is Lutheran. More singu-
lar was it when it developed that he
is Roman Catholic from Bavaria
not a Prussian at all, but on the
other hand the first Bavarian to ever
occupy a seat in the German machin-
cry Of government which all prece-
dent had established as the special
property of a Prussian.
We took occasion to point out al
the time of Hertling's appointment
that he is all that the kaiser could
desire under present circumstances
and we likewise took occasion to
show how his very friendly relations
with the vatican made him the logi-
cal candidate for the place.
Further light is shed on his pecu-
liar fitness at the special time which
circumstances are forcing into the
present course in an interesting and
authoritative little booklet on "The
Pope and the War" which we have
just received, and of which, we re-
gret to say we have but. one copy.
We CLEAN therefrom a fact that falls
into natural alignment with the vast
array of evidence that is Increasing
day by day, showing how intimately
the vatican and Austro- German in
terests are allied.
The book was written long before
Hertling was made imperial chancel-
lor Of Germany. 1t was written while
that gentleman was premier in Ba-
varia and shows that, in his official
capacity, he made the statement that
Germany and her allies must revive
the pGpul states. The able author
also quotes the KOlaiSche VoLkszei-
tang, one of the organs of the Ro-
man Catholic party in Germany
which says, "that effective measures
must be taken to give the pope and
his successors more independence
than is possible while the vatican is
surrounded by Italian territory
1t is probable that Germany will
be privileged to bring about salts
factory solution Of the question of an
Independent Papal State which the
war has once more brought within
the scope of practical politics."
We cannot refrain from making
the observation that with such a
statement issuing from Hertling as
Bavarian premier and from a rep
resentative organ of the Catholic
party in Germany that the raising OF
Hertling from his Bavarian post ts
that of imperial chancellor looks very
much as though the kaiser has put
his stamp Of approval on the senti.
ment. Then what Of the Austro-
German attack on the Italian front
at the psychological moment, in
exactly the right place to put the
army in retreat?
Of course, when we read Of re-
treating Italians hearing so many
cries in their ranks for peace and
'long live the pope" there is much
room for conjecture, but when it is
remembered that this military attack
was preceded by distribution of lit.
erature in the Italian ranks, from
Austro-G German air forces, and when
we read that many Italian priests
were working zealously in order that
their blinded followers might cry
"long live peace" and 'long live the
pope!" we begin to see how the whole
might easily have been a part oi
well-directed effort such as Germany
working in conjunction with papa
forces is able to put forth.
And no matter how clever or how
faithful, Codorna, the Italian com.
mander, might have been, the fact
that he is a Roman Catholic, a fact
that the Roman press has not failed
to herald, placed him at a disadvan-
tage.
The progress of Germany's propa.
ganda suggests the Jesuits, for every
move is in compliance with the
maxim that "the end justifes the
MEANS" and more; all of her i'm.
mense propaganda shows cunning
and certain popularity in It's ,promul.
cation that betrays and reveals the
employment of Jesuitical methods
We cannot forget the Jesuits were
especially anxious to please the
kaiser in 1905, at which time ht
nominated the black pope, or general
of the Jesuits, and we believe that
this shows working understanding
too important to be overlooked.
Consequently, even though Cor.
dona were the most ardent supporter
of Italy, even to the utter exclusion
of all papal interests Ia rare com.
bination) the fact that he is Ro,
manist placed him in a position more
perilous to Italy than if he had beer
otherwise for Roman Catholic i,
more apt to have close friends among
traitorous Jesuits than. is a non.
Catholic. It is natural that the re.
spect of Romanist for the Jesuits
would lead him to repose confidence
in such, and it is by no means a re.
mote possibility that he could have
thus been betrayed, making it posi-.
BILE for the Austro-Germans to attack
his line at a place to which Cordona
had directed little attention because
so it is said, of the apparent impend.
ing dangers elsewhere. Some dis
vatchaa oov tha mint oftonlad ,,,o .