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

It 10, the Knights, stiIl wanting their
propaganda fund, were perfectly
willing to resort to the open practice
Of asking Protestants TO contribute
that which pspxl patriotism had
failed to supply. Just as in all
schemes the money that might be
cajoled, argued, scared and coaxed
out Of the pockets Of heretics became
. very necessary thing to papal sue
cess. II the Protcstants would sup
ply the deficiency, or perchance over
subscribe the funds, what q fine
chance to show what the knights of
Columbus are doing to help win the
war and provide recreation for all
soldiers irrespective of sect" We
say without fear of contradiction
that If the Knights had thought for
one minute that Romanists woulo
supply the funds they so much de-
sired they would never have thrown
the funds open to Protestant sub
scriptions, much less went out and
begged and pleaded with Protestants
20 subscribe. Advertising would have
been more effective if paid for with
Roman dollars only. So we say the
boasted loyalty of Americas papists
in authority has never been, in this
war, all that the papal and secular
press have been saying it is, and if
there was that which was lacking
among those in authority those fur.
ther down the ladder are not alto
gether immune from infection.
A striking illustration Of how
Rome has been playing into the hano
of Germany was Cardinal Gibbons
suggestion that this government IA
vorably consider ANY PEACE Ger
many might offer.
This utterance linked to The Tab
lefs position that the allies must
pay the price III they want papists 10
be for them shows that the whole
matter hinges on the elevation of the
papal church, aIthing which no good
Catholic will ignore.
If the Roman church isn't elevated
helped, carried around on q chip and
the pope's demands met as he wants
them met, then governments may ex-
pect to "alienate the support of thou
sands of Catholics" Every MENACE
reader knows that the kaiser is help
ing the papal church with all his
might; knows that the restoration of
the temporal power has been freely
talked of as one of the results of a
German victory and we have seen
papist Hertling, a vatican favorite
and a fanatic on the temporal power
of the pope, elevated to imperial
chancellor In thst country. That II
politics with a vengeance. But here
Is more politics. In the United
States papists have insisted on posi-
tions and concessions in matters con-
cerning war and with each conces.
sion granted there has been a fresh
outburst from the hierarchy and tho
papal press shouting the loyalty of
papists as though none of the many
house tops were high enough. The
thin thread upon which this loyalty
hangs is about to assume another
burden.
This time It is not alone papaI
loyalty in the United States that is
involved. 1t is the loyalty of 1--WE
Catholics" everywhere, who "love the
holy father too ardently." The price
is the renunciation of any agreement
among the allies which might be con,
strued as denying the pope a seat In
the forthcoming peace conference.
OF course The Tablet Is careful to
state that the United States was not
party to the agreement, it Is glad
we are not, but when II says the
whole-hearted support OF Catholics
cannot be had so long as such Free
masonry tactics IRE countenanced and
closes It's editorial with a challenge
to the world 1t nullifes the softening
effect intended by its approval of the
u. S.
The object Is clear. The Tablet
would warn the allies and would like