Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-06
Cardinal Mercier'S
Visit to America
By j. Olin Howe in Boston Transcript.

sition in relation to our government.
But the King is so we'll aware of the
thoroughness of his knowledge and
the keen perception he brings to
bear on matters of current secular
interest that he finds it very pleas
ant to spend quiet hour going over
many things with his elder friend
l do not mean that he seeks advice
That would hardly be expected Nor
that Cardinal Mercier ever offers it,
So when the Germans came to
Belgium Cardinal Mercier was we'll
prepared He knew international
law fully as we'll as they did and
was as familiar with the rules of
warfare among civilized. nations. He
knew his rights and was determined
that they should not disregard them.
There was nothing in the law of ma
tions which forbid his issuing the
pastoral letters which he desired his
people to read and was not bound
to regard and regulations which
the German governing authority
might make on that point
The Cardinal Dcficd the Germans
The first letter on patriotism and
endurance was issued without pre-
l1minary announcement and by the
time the Germans saw it much of
Belgium was familiar with it, SO that
the situation was clear to everybody.
The German officers soon came to
see the Cardinal and expressed sur
prise that he had issued any such
letter without informing them. but
were willing to assume that he did
not know how offensive was his
action. They felt that they could
perhaps afford to let the offense go
for the time, but of course he would
not transgress again.
I agree to nothing of the kind,
replied Cardinal Mercier. I am
fully familiar with international Law.
and my rights under it and just
, how far you can go in governing
territory which you claim to have
conquered and where you must stop.
You have no authority under which
you may interfere with me in this.
Your Jurisdiction does not cover the
pastoral advices of the church. DO
not understand that I have sent out
this letter because of any misap-
| prchension on my part. l am under
no misapprehen l have the
most perfect right to do what l have
done. More, it Is my duty, and I
shall do it again if l find occasion.
: If there is unfamiliarity with
the law, it is on your part said the
| SaTulllul, not OH mine. 1Ou Ctln-
not interfere between pastor and
his flock. Do not take it that 1
have erred at all. 1t is you who are
! in error. l make you no pledges
as to the future, and shall do my
| duty as l see it, having due respect
| for constitutional authority, but Civ
| ing no attention to any assumption
! of power which you do not possess" ="
| Doctor de Strycker discussed the
Cardinal,k second letter, the suffer-
/ ings of Belgium and the outcome
of the war. Then the conversation
took a new turn.
He concluded: Germany of to-
day feels differently toward the rest
of the world than before 1914.
Her people know they failed in
their effort to dominate the world
and they are not sure this could
ever be accomplished. For the pre-
sent. anyway, 1t is not so much IN
their thoughts as is getting back into
the good graces of the rest OF
humanity. The Germans are q
proud and sensitive people and ii
cuts them terribly to feel that they
are despised and even hated by the
other peoples of the earth. They
will, I think, do everything in their
power to change that"