Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-08-17
THE PoPE's INTERCEssIoN.

anter into peace ColIiSie'S
the terms set forth this week by Pope
Bapedict XIV and that the pontift
himself was aware Of that fact when
he sent out his proposals, his sng-
1estions are still the theme OF con-
yefsation throughout the civilized
world, It is believed that the Pope's
nroposals are initiatory, and thati
others will follow in their wake IN
the near future which will attract
more interest.
While there is much pessimlsln. con!
corning this latest peace move, the
intercession Of Pope Benedict has pro-
duced equally as much optimism, and
it is believed in many quarters that
his action will eventually prove an
entering wedge, and that Germany
and her allies as well as the seventeen
nations arrayed against the central
powers will be persuaded to stop,
look and listen.
A contemporary calls attention to
the fact that the keynote OF pope
Benedict's appeal to the warning ma
tions sums up the situation AS fol-
lows:
''Is this civilized world to be moth
ing more than a field of death? And
Europe, 50 glorious and flourlshln&,
IS it going, as if stricken by uni
yersal madness. to run to the abyss
and to lend its hand to its own sui
cide?"
The pontitf sees destruction for the
civilized world if the war is permitted
70 reel headlong To ! finish o. eX-
haustion. He intercedeS for peace be-
cause he sees the danger /" the fu-
tule of Christianity il the great
Christian continent IS to be drenchcd
in blood for an indefinite period, and
is to remain i symbol Ct how little
The true principles Of Christianity
have pcrmeated the nations which pro-
TESS il, and which strive to impose
it on less developed peoples.
Il may be observed that those who
would treat the peace proposals OF
the Pope as tawdry ornaments fit
only for garnishing the Snout OF the
SOW Of war that is wallowing III the
filth Of degraded civilization
would do vast discrcdit to proposals
that may contain the germ OF concilia-
tion OF the great war struggle. Whlle
the plan a; advanced seems 20 bear
German carmarks, as may be gath
cred from such expressions as Ger
man statesmen have given forth. there
Is in this fact 40 reason to believe
that there was direct or indirect IN
spiration from that source. The Pope
says there was not, and his word
will So accepted But the fact IS
not greatly material. No matter!
whence they arise, any practicable
peace terms would be welcomed by!
the verdi
The p0pe's peace plea will lead
10 no immediate cessation Of hostili
ties is believed in Washington. If
Press dent Wilson feels that its terms
will mean the elimination Of the
Hohenzo:!crns, it. may be made the
basis Of representations to the allies
hy the United States. But France will
hold out Tor punitive indemnlties
against Germany and England will
refuse t. avccic to the restoration
of Germamy1 colonies.
AISLE J. Grom,a. Senator from North
Dakota. Is quoted as saying:
Germany should be beaten; any au- !
tocracy should BIZ beaten. The United
States will come out victorious in
this war. BIT the message Just re-
cetved from Pope Benedict cannot and |
Wi! not BE ignored by the people of
the world. Personally. | can see no |
narm n declaration of that kind
naving for its object the proposal OF |
peace. Upon what terms this warl
shall end will be, of course, for tha
United States and our allies 10 del
eide. bit # this war can be ended |
ard ar honorable peace established
without the slaughter of American
1iv9s, it<would be better to discuss
/. rsaces now than to wait until that |
has been done" :
William Jennings Bryan gara ut