The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1918-01-26

EIGI roWers, nrSt feared Dy Italy
kuSI Russia, England and France
and later confirmed by the
intl.gue OF the pope's private cham
berlain. Gerlach. as well as the many
prot German campaigns In various
countries Of the world, has at last in.
fected the American hierarchy which
has 90 studiously courted publicity in
an endeavor to make charges of dis
loyalty affecting them seem the veri-
est folly.
We say It has infected the Ameri-
can hierarchy for we find q near
reasonable utterance in The Tablet
official hierarchal journal Of the
Brooklyn diocese, issue for December
Goth, and that utterance not only as.
sumes to speak for Romanists In
America, but goes 80 far as ia
threaten the allies with worldwide
papal opposition II certain demands
Of papists are not met. Singular
enough the condition which The Tab.
lot would force upon the allies as q
price Of papal loyalty would serve to
seat the pope In tho ultimate peace
conference.
Of course If loyalty were a thing
which the allies cared to purchase
they might wish to consider this
proposition from O purely mercantile
standpoint--unless, as Is the case
principle should demand and dictate
that the bought loyalty of any peo-
pie, no matter how numerous, is not
sufficient compensation for the price
asked.
To get at the situation from an
understandable standpoint, let US ex-
plain that the thing which has
aroused The Tablet to the pitch where
it assumes to speak for the Roman
Catholics of the world is nothing
more or less than the wide publica-
ton of the purported agreement be-
tween Italy, Russia, France, and Eng.
land to the effect that the pope should
not be allowed to sit In any peace
conference having to do with the set,
tlement Of issues at stake.
This agreement, signed when Italy
entered the struggle on the side Of
the allies, in that part dealing with
the pope, says: "France, Great Brit
ain, and Russia take it upon them
selves to support Italy in her de-
mands that representatives Of the
holy see shall not be allowed to take
any diplomatic steps for the conclu-
sion Of peace or in regard to matters
pertaining to the present war"
As an excuse for Its intemperate
demands The Tablet assumes to be
offended because the pope has beer
denied the privileges referred to in
the face Of his "moral authority" and
his position as the "holy father Of
millions of Catholics" which pre.
tended prerogatives The Tablet he,
lieves should be Exercised" bv him
in the diplomatic business Of bring
ing about peace. But the full force
Of The Tablets article which Is Its
leading editorial for the date men,
toned, can be had only by reading
excerpts from the article which we
quote as follows:
"AN INSULT"
"Ths publication Of the document
containing the secret clause which
records the agreement Of England
Russia and France, to Italy's demand
that the vatican be absolutely pro-
hibited from any diplomatic influence
Of any kind regarding the conclusion
Of peace has aroused che interest Of
the world. II the Russian Lenine has
not falsifed the document in cues.
ton and so far there has been no
denial Of its authenticity from the
allies-we are face to face with a
most brazeh and insulting cabal
against the right Of the Holy Father
to exercise the moral authority which
his position as spiritual Father of
millions Of Catholics affords him. The
stipulation agreed to BY FrcIand
France and Russia, is an open insult
to Catholics throughout the world
and they will not be slow to resent It.
If the allies are foolish enough 10
think that such Franroe esnnrv-in-
spired tactics will have any other ef-
feet than to ALLEVIATE the whole
heA~ted support of the thousands of
Catholics who are doing more than
their bit in this war for democracy
and decency. thew are hadlv in need
Of some common-sense advisors.
"As Americans, we are proud that
our country has not had, and would
not have, anything to do with so In