Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-07
Cardinal Mercaer's VISIT


America as personal representative of Cardinal
MERCER, arranging for the visit of the Belgian
patriot soon to begin. In an interview with
]. DIN Howe, published in the Boston Trans
cript, the doctor discussed the conduct of the
cardinal during the war.
There was no thought of popular approval
in Cardinal Merciers mind when he issued
those pastoral letters" said the doctor. Nor
primarily was he intent on defying the Ger
mans. 1t was with him simply a matter of
duty. 1t is a part OF his daily task to aid his
may be helpful to them. Suffering and Attic
ton lay heavy on all Belgium. and his duty
was to tighten it if he could. He did his best
to do it, and l need hardly tell you of the COM
fort and fresh courage Begans took from what
he wrote.
HE is philosopher, one of the great phil
osophers of his age His is wonderful mind
and he has developed his intellect so that it
has many sides. No subject under the sun but
he has some familiarity with. He has made it
point to gain the widest possible range of
information and store it away against occasion
when he might require it.
His conception of the science OF philoso phy
is something which includes all other sciences,
and Cardinal Mercier has taken up the others
one after another and given them deep study
and all the rest. He has had unusual opportu-
mites to meet men of other nationalities be
cause of his connection with the University Of
Louvaln. 1t is always delight to the Of
affairs with the cardinal, whom they find in
formed to degree which often surprises them.
and it gives him a broad view of the world
outside from his study window.
international law has long been of the
greatest interest to Cardinal MERCER" contin-
ued Doctor de Strycker, land he has thor
oughly familiarized himself with every phase
of it and from every angle. His judgment on
topics OF international moment is exceedingly
sound, and that fact is we'll known in Belgium
Even King Albert has been known to dis
cuss public affairs with the cardinal-unofi-
cially, of course for the latter holds no official
position in relation to our government. But
the king is so we'll aware of the thoroughness
OF the keen perception he brings to bear on
matters of current secular interest that he finds
it very pleasant 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 Mer-
cier ever offers it.
Cardinal MERCER was we'll prepared. He knew
international law fully as we'll as they did, and
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
tons which forbade his issuing the pastoral
letters which he desired his people to read. and
he was not bound to regard any regulation
which the German governing authority might
make on that point.
The first letter on patriotism and endur-
ance was issued without preliminary announce
,nent, and by the time the Germans saw it
much of Belgium was familiar with it, so that
the situation was clear to everybody. The Ger
man officers soon came to the cardinal, and
expressed surprise that he had issued any such
letter without informing them. but were will
ing to assume that he did not know how often
sive was his action. They felt that they could
perhaps afford to let the offense go for that
time, but of course he would not transgress
again.
"T agree to nothing of the kind replied
Cardinal MERCER. L am fully familiar with
international law and my rights under it ard
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 in this. " our
jurisdiction does not cover the pastoral ad
vices of the church Do not understand that
| have sent out this letter because of any mis-
apprehensi on on my part. | am under no mis-
apprehension. | have the most perfect right
to do what | have done. More, it is MY duty,
and | shall do it again if find occasion.
IF there is unfamarity with the law, it
is your part said the cardinal, mot on
mine. You cannot interfere between pastor
and his flock. Do not take it that l have
erred unwittngly l have not erred at all 1t
is you who are in error | make no pledges
as to the future, and shall do my duty as I see
it, having due respect for constitutional author
ity. but giving no attention to any assumption
of powers which you do not possess
Doctor de Stryker discussed the cardinals
second letter. the sufferings of Belgium and
the outcome of the war. Then the conversation
took new turn.
About Louvan universty-it is to be re-
stored of course?'
YES, the plans for its restoration are we'll
worked out and all the rest of the world seems
interested. 1t is planned to make it sort of
monument to the folly Of war Of conquest.
The world needs such reminder, or at least,
does"