The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1918-03-09

that agreement with Italy still
holds, (the United States never
signed it not then being a belliger-
ent) and if Mr.. Beamish is right in
saying that those who want an en-
voy at the vatican want America to
get in closer touch with peace moves
does it not look like they are
searching for a separate peace?
This country is looking for no such
peace. Neither are those of its Off
cials who are loyal, but such is the
position in which we would be
placed.
Then, too, Of what use is it to fight
in a war, the declared purpose of
which is "to make the world safe
for democracy" if the supposed
leader Of all liberal democracies
shows signs of weakening on demo-
cratic principles, deserts the ship
as it were, to the extent of establish
ing diplomatic relations with a
crowned head that has nothing but
claim to rulership by divine right
and hoard of persons in all coun-
tries who pay him first allegiance
to establish his temporal sovereign
ty?
One Of the aims of this war will
be lost if it establishes the kind of
democracy" that will mould all the
nations into one body under the
aegis Of the pope and the American
people don't want to identify their
government with the Roman Cath
olic or any other religion.
Enough has been said to start a
real American to thinking, and while
you are thinking on this subject we
wish to give you advantage of the
two best reasons Mr.. Beamish was
able to offer as excuses fl consid-
ering the papal proposal. The first
is:
The precedent set when former
President Taft settled the Philip
pine Friars' question by direct con-
ference with the vatican, is consid-
cred an answer to those who declare
that no similar action has ever been
taken by this country.
We wonder if that writer is pos
sessed of such a defective memory
that he cannot recall the immensity
of Mr.. Taft's mistake in settling
direct with the vatican. Besides, an
official may commit a public act
that is a precedent but which might
in nowise be a reason for doing a
similar thing again. In fact mis-
takes are the best teachers and if
Mr.. Taft, as a politician, could
leave the morgue it is very probable
he would not err the second time in
this matter, and if he leaves the
morgue it will be- up to Rome to
assist him therefrom.
Again Mr.. Beamish attempts to
explain:
Practical-minded men in the ad-
ministration who view the PROPOSE.
tion entirely outside of religious and
philanthropic questions are forward
ing it quietly upon the theory that
American representation in the vat
ican would strengthen immensely the
intelligence service of this country
and would go far toward placing us
upon an equality with the other ma
tions that will assemble around the
council board when peace terms shall
be discussed.
We have been tutored in the be-
lief (by the secular press) that this
is a war of ruthlessness and war
that nothing but brute force strate-
gically applied can settle, but Mr..
Beamish seems to dote on the idea
that after the brute force is ex-
pended, America can get justice
only by having had an envoy in the
vatican for some time in advance of
the peace conference. This idea is
expressed"in the words placing us
on a footing with the other ma
tions." And this he would picture
as a result of the intelligence af-
forded the country by having an
envoy at the pope's heels. What
hypocrites and fools We mortals be
if we think the pope is going to
hard us any Intelligence" and
keep "dishing out" the information
obtained by his spies. He has them
throughout the world and he could
do it but if this country is wholly,
or in part, dependent upon the vat
lean for spy work its cause is lost
and that, if for no other reason,
because the American public don't
favor operating a spy system
through ecclesiastical opportunists.
This is a question that can well re-
ceive your attention at once in the
form of a letter to the congressman
from your district and the senator
from your state. They will get in
touch with the proper person to sink
Th;c ,,.o,,o,;4;or Io4o Al ol,1,u,.-.