The sun., 1919-09-10
The welcome to Cardinal Mereter.


As manifold as profoundly sincere
Is the welcome which Americans will
give to the Primate of Belgium. AS
many as the facets Of full cut
diamond are the emotions awakened
by his presence among us, for the
Cardinal incarnates the soul of the
Belgian people. No other person so
fully represents the spiritual forces
that have sustained the Belgian peo-
Pile during the agonies Of war.
Noble is the record Of his predeces-
sors In resisting autocracy-of FRANK
ENBURG, who withstood Austria,
France and Prussia; and of Bishop
BRoGLIE, who opposed both NAPOLEON
and the bigoted Dutch King WILLIAM
I. These prelates were champions of
that innate love Of Belgian democ-
racy which has outlived Roman, Span
ish, Austrian and Dutch attempts to
smother 1t. Yet though these men
OF COP and friends Of man have done
excellently, MERCER excels them all.
During four years, unaided by any
material power, he defended his peo-
pie, without Quailing, before German
brute force. Through his courage the
millions in the Land Where the Pop
pies Blow were out OF weakness
made strong.
But why, with varied and yet pecul-
lar emotions Of pleasure, do Ameri-
cans welcome Cardinal MERCER? Let
the voices of both recent and modern
as we'll as ancient history answer.
First, in time and in his develop
ment as a man, we honor him as a
lover of reason and philosophy. Long
before we knew him as a Prince Of
the Church, when he was profes-
sor at Louvain, his superb scholarship
and power of reasoning charmed. But
when we saw how, when called to
high Office and the laborious details
OF administration, he measured up to
his mighty tasks our admiration
waxed greater.
AS a churchman the Cardinal is
both a model and an inspiration. No
country more than that In which lies
his multitudinous diocese can show
greater variety of opinions. But
at his bugle call and summons all
varieties Of kin and creed became one.
Catholics, Socialists, Walloons, Flem-
ings, Secularists and Sectarians alike
heard his call.
This was his creed: "GoD will
save Belgium, my brethren; you can
not doubt It,"
Such words, backed by SO noble a
life, we're more than the sixteen inch
howitzers of the Germans. Greatest
of all victories of the Belgian soul
was that in the total failure to Prus-
sianize the University of Client. The
attempt to rend asunder the soul of
Belgium into Walloon and Flemish
fragments was no less a German de-
feat than a distinct Belgian triumph.
It excelled In moral significance even
the master strokes in the Argonne or
at Chateau Thierry. The fact that sc
per cent. Of men in the army Of Bel.
GUM were Flemings adds a dramatic
element to the silent victory which
was truly national.
But why multiply details? From
the first onset of the invaders the life
and work, voice and form Of this
venerable servant of GoD and mar
have been as the stirring music of the
national hymn, ia Brabanconne," III
praise Of king, Law and Liberty
Hear the trumpet zones of his Christ
mas pastoral of 1914, now an immor
tai classic. When to the world hii
country seemed hopelessly crushed
and in the talons Of the black two
headed eagle MERCER thus wrote:
"The sole lawful authority In Bel
GUM is that OF our King. OF our
Government, OF the elected represen-
tatives OF the nation. This authority
alone has a right TO our submission"
| 1t was like looking into the muzzl,