The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-10
MERCER ,EXPOUNDS
PROPERTY DOCTRINE
Ownership Is Right, Also a
Trusteeship Which Affects
World.
NORMAL LEVEL SOUGHT
Cardinal Talks to Financiers
as Guest of Chamber of
Commerce.

The doctrine that property is one OF
the fundamental rights of man, but that
he who holds or administers It has a
trusteeship which affects all the world
was expounded in the financial district
yesterday by Cardinal MERCER of Bel
GUM.
The audience to which he spoke was
the district what it is. for he was the
guest of the Chamber of Commerce at
It's regular monthly meeting. He was
introduced after the despatch of routine
business and in beginning his speech
mentioned the smoothness with which II
had been put through. saying that any
European body of the same Significance
and dignity would have required a week
or two, with long drawn oratory and
counter oratory. Then presently he
came to the subject Of property rights.
TN Belgium we face at this moment,
1 fear. danger, for the Germans have
stolen all the metals and machinery and
thousands OF our workmen are idle
This creates a state of trouble; have
never seen our people so dissatisfied as
they are since peace arrived.
Radical socialism is working every
where, undermining the foundation of
society. Radical socialism, Bolshevism,
goes through the world as current.
so l think we all have a task to
accomplish. you as well as. l. Let us
go forward hand in hand to keep firm
the basis OF the social order. l under
n
home is TO give all my powers to main
tanning and keeping alive the principles
Of morality and order. We are all to-
gether, you with Inc and I with you, to
keep up respect for the legitimate rights
Of property.
Property must be kept. Without in
dividual property. without Individual re-
sponsibility for getting property, we
shall go through anarchy or become
slaves under the violence OF tyranny.
I'VE have to resist together, then, the
confusion of the legitimate liberty OF in
dividuals and the legitimate authority
of the State. Well, / for my part, will
be in that field and will do my work, and
am sure you will do yours. Help all
you can to encourage the socially op-
pressed and assist families and the in
stitutions supporting the family home
II you Will help us to restore as soon as
possible the normal conditions Of life to
our worfmen and our middle classes YOU
will cooperate with us and We with you
in the restoration of the morale of all
society.
II think you will agree with me that
radicals who would put the influence of
religion outside of society are wrong.
Religion has an influence on morality
and morality on the material prosperity
OF the world-all links in one chain. l
think. then. that MY visit among you
will be something more than n moment
OF mutual kindness with esteem and
affection. High up. 1t will be, II will
have some permanent effects.
Il am sorry that express so i'm
perfectly my ideas, but l see you I'M
derstand. would give you that formal
last word, word of confidence in YOU
and hope that our hearts and efforts
will be united for the welfare of the
great principles of justice aud love of
humanity and religion as the basis of
moral and social order"
Cardinal Mercier will leave New York
tomorrow. but to-day he will be about
all day again. He will be the guest OF
the Church Peace Union and Church
Federation at noon at the Hotel Bit
more, will visit City College in the
afternoon and dine with the Bar Associ-
alton at night.
Cardinal Mercler and Archbishop Pat
rick j. Ryan went yesterday to larry
town to thank John ID. Rockefeller for
the aid he had given to Belgium during
the war. II was originally intended to
have the visit to-day, but Mr.. Rookie
Teller had planned to go to Lakewood
and the plans Of the Cardinal were
changed. -Four policemen from Yonkers
escorted the party. which reached the
Rockefeller gate about $40 o'clock. Be-
fore entering the Rockefeller estate the
Cardinal visited the Marymount School
whei he offered a blessing.
The Cardinal brought busy day to
a close at the Hotel Commodore last
night, when he was the guest of honor
at dinner given by the knights OF
Columbus. Besides Cardinal Mercier.
who spoke about ten minutes and
thanked the Knights for what they had
done in the war, the speakers were Jus
tice Victor ]. Bowling and William p.
Larkin, overseas director of the Knights
Of Columbus.