The Irish standard., 1918-01-12
Cardinal Logue Warns Irish
Against Resort to Violence
An Irish Republic Not Practicable
Sim Fein Dreams Are Utopian-
Situation is Frauqht With
Great Danger.

The misery and suffering which this
lamentable war entails not only on
belligerents, but on neutral countries,
has given rise to a widespread and
earnest longing for peace Yet, as
far as human action is concerned and
human Judgment can forecast, there
is little hope of peace in the near
future.
The ruinous conflict still goes on,
with the sacrifice of young lives by
tens OF thousands, waste of treas
ure which will cripple the countries
engaged for generations, an ever
growing accumulation of present and
future evil consequences, and all this
with very little tangible result. The
pendulum keeps swinging from side
to side, with no decided leaning to
either.
Moved by this unavailing sacrifice
of human life and the sufferings of
multitudes so dear to his paternal
heart, the sovereign pontiff made a
disinterested and authoritative appeal,
such as his neutrality and position
justified, to the belligerent powers.
This appeal, where not misrepre-
sented or coldly received, has hither-
to had no practical effect
Some, at least, who have treated it
with scant courtesy, have since been
given reason to reconsider their view
OF it's Importance for their own best
interests.
Since, therefore, the pride, jealous
les, ambitions and conflicting interests
of men leave little grounds to hope
for an early peace, it is meet that we
should have recourse to Almighty God,
in whose hands are the destinies of
men and who can direct their ways
and inspire their counsels.
We must endeavor, by purifying our
motives and desires, to render our
selves more worthy of His favor. Then
we may hope, by fervent, persevering
prayer, to move His mercy and obtain
the blessing, which we so badly need,
OF just and lasting peace.
Nor is it for the general peace of
the world only that we should sue. We
have troubles and unrest and excite
ment and dangers here at home which
render domestic peace necessary.
Whether it be due to the demoraliza-
tion which this world war has brought
to almost every country, or to the fate
which seems to hang over our own
unhappy country, blasting her hopes
when they seem to brighten, an agita-
ton has sprung up and is spreading
| among our people which. ill-consider-
ed and Utopian, cannot fail, if perse-
vered in, to entail present suffering,
| DISCRIMINATION and danger, and is
sure to end in future disaster, defeat
and collapse.
And all this is in pursuit of dream
which no man in his sober senses can
hope to see realized; the establish
ment OF an Irish republic, either by an
appeal to the potentates of Europe
seated at peace conference, or an
appeal to force by hurting an unarmed
people against an empire which has
100000 men under arms, furnished
with the most terrible engines of de-
struction which human ingenuity
could devise. The thing would be
| ludicrous if it were not so mischiev-
Gus and fraught with such danger,
when cleverly used as an incentive to
fire the imagination of an ardent, gen
erous, patriotic people.
We have, therefore, need of peace,
Peace among the warning nations
which will bring relief to so many suf-
fering peoples; peace at home, which
will enable us to unite quietly, pru-
IDENTIFY and perseveringly, in consult
ing for the best interests of our COM
mon country. If men, by their de-
signs, their conflicting interests, their
mistaken views, stand in the way of
this blessing of peace, we should have
recourse to the Prince of Peace, be-
seeching Him, through the interces-
sion of His blessed Mother, to grant
us both general and domestic peace;
above all, to grant us that peace which
surpasseth all understanding; peace
with God, peace with ourselves, and
peace with our neighbor.
| A.