The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1917-12-08

thrones this coming Sunday, pas
toral letter in which it is declared
the Catholics of Germany repel all
attacks against the German ruling
house." Do you realize that when
the German bishops undertake the
task of reading a pastoral letter
from v the Episcopal thrones" that
they dare not fly in the face of what
the vatican wishes?
Do you realize that said pastoral
letter must, by the very nature Of the
fact that it was read from the vari-
Gus Episcopal thrones" have been
commanded and inspired from an
authoritative source having power to
command or sanction what should be
done in so many places at the same
time? Any sane person knows Roman
bishops do not unite upon such a
proposition without knowledge of the
fact that the vatican will approve of
their action. .,....
What then do the Roman bishops
mean when they say Catholics of
Germany repel all attacks against
the German ruling house?"' It simply
means that among other things they
repel the suggestion set forth by Pres
ident Wilson as to. getting rid Of the
kaiser. In fact, we doubt not that
President Wilson's reply to the pope
is more responsible for this solid
Roman Catholic stand than all things
else. His note was 80 pregnant with
danger to the German kaiser that it
forced Wilhelm to take protective
measures and to what source could
he turn for aid that would be more
apt to respond in a whole-hearted
manner than Rome?
There is constant communication
between Germany and the vatican
and the sympathetic bond has been
so strong that the autocracy of Rome
and the autocracy of Germany have
long INDUCED in mutual deals. The
kaiser is making good so far as lies
within his power, in his attempt to
satisfy the Catholic party of Ger
many and restore the papal states to
the pope. Look at the Austro- Ger
man forces well advanced into Italy
look at the kaiser's appointment of
Hertling, the Bavarian Catholic as
imperial chancellor, who he kneto had
gone on record as demanding a res
toration of the papaI states, political
ly simultaneous with the launching
Of the Austro-German offensive on
the Italian front. Look at the aid
the pope's subjects were able to rem
der through the Neapolitans who re-
tired before the German troops cry
ing 'long live peace" and "long live
the pope"
For the pope to make no effort at
lining up the German Catholics behind
the kaiser once and for all so as to
make his position secure, so far as
Rome can make it secure, would be
very tngrateful-hence we find that
the pope, in appreciation Of what Ii
being done in furtherance of the
Catholic cause" and in natural SYM
pathy for his friend Wilhelm, Is d.
recting his people to "repel all at
tacks against the German ruling
house."
Nor does he stop here. Not only
does he command them to stand by
the kaiser but he goes on to argue
against democracy. Note the quota
ton from the Kansas City Times
where it says "the bishops reject the
sovereignty of the people which only
brings other forms of inequality and
servitude and constraint of which
the world war offers many ex'
amples."
How typical Of the papal position
regarding democracy, or popular
sovereignty, that position is. 1t is
in exact agreement with Leo XIII
who said in his Encyclical Letter or
the Constitution of States, page 1923;
"The sovereignty of the people
however, and this without any refer.
ence TO God, is held to reside in tbs
multitude; which is doubtless doc.
trine exceedingly well calculated t
fiatter and infame many passions
but which lacks all reasonable proof
and all power Of insuring public