The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-12
CARDINAL LOCUE
WARNS AGAINST
IRISH PLOTTERS
Sure to End in Disaster, De-
feat and Collapse, He
Declares.
BY MICHAEL CARDINAL IoG17E

BY MICHAEL CARDINAL IOGITE
The misery and suffering which
this lamentable war entails not onIv
on belligerents, but on neutral conn
tries, 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, a 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 JUS
titled, to the belligerent powers.
This appeal, where not misrepre-
toS had no practical effect.
Some, at least, who have treated it
with scant courtesy, have since beer
given reason to reconsider their view
of its 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.
Appeal to the Almighty
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 sadly need,
of a 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 neces-
sary. Whether it be due to the demon
alization which this world war has
brought to almost every country, or
to the fate which seems to hang over
cur own unhappy country blasting
her hopes when they seem to brighten,
an agitation has sprung up and is
spreading among our people which,
ill-considered and Utopian cannot fail,
If persevered in, to entail present suf-
fering, disorganization, and danger,
and is sure to end in future disaster
defeat and collapse
His Warning Against Sim Feinism
And all this in pursuit of a 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 a Peace Conference or an
appeal to force by hurting an unarmed
people against an empire which has
five millions of men under arms, fur
nished with the most terrible engines
of destruction which human ingenu-
lty could devise. The thing would be
ludicrous if it were not so mischievous
and fraught with such danger, when
cleverly used as an incentive to fire
the imagination of an ardent, gener-
Gus, patriotic people.
Peace Essential Everywhere
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
Twill 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 designs,
their conflicting interests, their mis-
taken views, stand in the way of this
blessing of peace, we should have re-
course 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 understandings.
peace with God, peace with ourselves
and peace with our neighbor. (Bv The
International News Bureau, Inc, Bos-
ton, Mass.)