Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-17
YOU ARE THE PROVOKERS," CRIES MERCER

'Despe your pessimistic anticipations has not the
country continued calm? Is there single Belgian
during the year that you have been treadng our soil
under circumstances known 10 you: is there say a
single Belgian that has touched hair of single Ger
man head? Has shot been fired any of your men7
"No; because we hold firm hand and keep sharp
lookout"
mot al ALL sir; it is not because you hold firm
hand and keep sharp lookout You would certainly
admit that if political passions, you affirm, were
in1amed against you, there would be found here and
there behind wall or from the security of upper
story hand armed with revolver to fire you. And
among the thousands of who risk their lives
cndeavoring to join army few would be found
perchance to do you evil turn in the dark. You,
the contrary have used every expedent to provoke
rising of the people, but the obstinate calmness of
men has thwarted YOU"
$50 it is we who have provoked you? We are the
provokers?"
"YOu Are the ProUokerS'
"les. sir; you the proyokers and ! will m-
mediatey furnish the proof.
"At the time my first pastoral was published what
did you do? You sent soldiers in the morning and
night on bicycles and motorcycles and also in noisy
motorcars through all the peaceful villages of Campnc
and WALTON district; you suddenly awakened out OF
their sleep the clergy sacristans, servants in presby
teries, with threats your lips and sometimes with
revolver in your hand you made them open the churches
and sacrises, the drawers Of desks, in The hope OF
laying hands on my pastoral and this fine game lasted
Governor General forttod, just as you do today, a
rising of the people, the people remained calm in obed
encc TO the counsels of longsuerng preached by
Then as now today. the Belgian people continued sub
missive, not because of you but in spite of you.
"And when went to Brussels to sing mass at st.
Gudule, do you not recoect how you treated me?
"ln imagination, | can still the rough fellow
who barred my way the canal bridge at the city
gate nsolently demanding my identity papers,"
ooh! all our soldiers have not been brought up in
drawing rooms"
"Nor either. Accordingly, it is not this
intentional insult that wish to base my contention. If
I have recalled this fact it is to emphasize another
namely that when several eye-wnesses exasperated at
this spectacle of mpertinence, had respectfully ap-
pauded the Cardinal for having answered the demand
addressed to him with act of docity, of your
officers ordered bayOnet charge TO be made women
and children, who, without uttering word, had Law
ished upon marks of respect. Was this, was ID
not, calculated to provoke the people?
"And the next day. and the next how did you treat
nc?
"FOUowed Me to My Carriage"
"After singing at St Guduc betook myself
to the Institute of st. Louis and at o'clock in the
ming | took my departure for a small country house
possessed at lHermite Brane-lAlleud Already in
the boulevard of the Botanical Garden in front of ST.
Louis two spies bicycles awaited me; and they fol-
lowed my carriage all the way"
perhaps some police officer had on his own inta-
tive taken this STEP but the authorities not respon
sble"
pardon me, sir the authorities responsible"
"rhe Governor Genera?"
"At any rate high authority and here is the
proof. The spies escorted my carriage hating when
sackened pace, quickenng again when wc
descended incline Arrived at Asemberg, three kilo
meters from PHermite, night falling, l went
the cures residence and slept at the presbytery The
following day at o'clock in the morning set out
foot in the direction Of rHeme. Scarcely had left
the village when encountered three German soldiers
horseback coming toward me from the direction
OF Braine-l'Alleud The moment they had passed me
they turned bride to accompany me TO my destina-
ton learned later that the spies had gone during the
early hours into the churches of BranePA Alleud and
Asemberg if the priest at the altar not the
Cardinal. Therefore Baron, the spying organized
by who held authority both at Brussels and
in the district of Nvees where BraineP Aleud is sit
uated; it was therefore high authority very high
authority"
After these words his Eminence made slight pause
to what impression he had made his nterocutor;
the Baron remained confused The Cardinal continued
"And during the four days I passed in the coun-
try had two sentinels who ostensiby guarded my
little property, questioned the visitors, followed them
when they left to ascertain the object of their visit:
in fine, you assumed the air of people watching GRIM
inaI and trying TO sti1e conspiracy.
CONTINUED TOMORROW
Copyright By Public ledger o
-, COPYRIGHT CanddG, 1919. By Public Ledger Co