Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-10
GREAT CARDINAL
COMES To i. s. To
EXTEND THANKS
MERCER Lands at New York
Just asl.Day Is Fading Is
Welcomed By City and the
Church to American Soil
10y MssNrno JossxAL SPECIAL LEASED AZ,

10y hSeNIN5 JoJ#NAL SPECIAL LEASED ~ aui
New York, Sept 9.-Cardlnal Mer-
cier, Belgium's gallant churchman
| arrived here today, bringing to Amer.
lea the thanks of the little country
in whose tragic history he has played
so heroic a part. As the venerable
| prelate stepped for the first time or
American soil he was asked for a
message to the American people.
81 can only say thank YOU" he
pied, his voice quivering with emo
ticn. what else is there for me to
say?"
Cardinal Mercier speaks excellent
English with a soft, musical accent
There is little in the outward form OF
the man who has played so striking
d part on the worlds stage to tell of
the devoted priest who defied the
German invader in the most insolent
moment of his brutal triumph and
sternly babe him heed the law of God
if he cared nothing for the laws Of
man. His tall form bent under the
tremendous burden he bore for -four
terrible years, the features of his
heavily lined face seem to reveal
nothing but gentleness and kfndli-
ness. But the deep set brown eyes
look out from under the strongly
marked eyebrows with clear calm
and penetrating gaze which tells
much of the uncomfortable spirit Of
the man.
Daylight was fading when the Uni
ted States army transport Northern
Pacific steamed slowly to its pier in
IIohoken Long before it locked the
watchers on the wharf had caught
sight Of The tall, black figure standing
on the bridge gazing at the shores of
the cnultr which had meant 81
much To his native land in her hou"
of deepest need. A great cheer went
up and the cardinal DOTTED his tri-
cornered leaver hat and bowed again
and again in answer.
AS the transport was warped to its
moorings the cardinal left his post on
The bridge and moved down to the
lower deck where hundreds of return
ing soldiers were roaring their JOY
over their home coming. The soldiers
fell back quickly and left a space at
the rail where the cardinal stood until
the ship had docked.
As soon as the gangway had been
run up Mayor Hylan and the official
welcoming committee, Archbishop
Hayes and a number of other church
dignitaries, boarded the transport and
officially welcomed the guest of the
city and nation. The cardinal was
then taken across the river and thence
by automobile to Archbishop Hayes
residence.
The transport had been welcomed
to her dock by the band of the em-
barkation department playing Hail,
Hail the Gangs All Here" and kin
dred tunes
AS the cardinal stepped onto the
dock, however. there was a pause and
then the band swung into stirring
strains of la Brabanconne," the ma
tional anthem of Belgium. AS the
first strains fell on the ears of the
aged prelate he faltered and took a
step backward. apparently over
whelmed with surprise. He recovered
himself and a radiant smile crossed
his face.
Reception Impresses Him.
Asserting that his only mission to
this country was to convey to the peo-
pie of America his admiration and
love-" and to express on behalf of the
people of Belgium, both Catholic and
Protestatant, their gratitude, Cardl-
nal MERCER tonight spoke feelingly
of the reception rendered him and his
10y at being on American soil for the
first time.
TT is a remarkable ending of de-
lightful voyage" he saba voyage
in company with many of your noble
soldiers returning from task well
performed. 1 could not even fancy
the magnificent reception that has
been rendered me.
81 have followed the magnificent
record of your army in France and
Belgium and the men of your army
magnified the love l have for you and
supported the magnificent record of
the Americans who preceded them.
II feel that my arrival here is
momentous moment in my life and |
only wish / could in at least a part
express the gratitude of Belgium for
America and its people.
Il want to say, however, that my
people want to begin to work for
themselves again They want to take
up their Industrial life as soon as pos |
sible. Many are idle against their
wills for the reason that our facilities
for production were destroyed by the |
Germans in their fearful scientific |
manner. We want machinery, we |
want raw materials and we know that |
America will help us to get back to
work again"
The cardinal was asked by newspa-
per men who he received at the resi-
denee of Archbishop Hayes, what he
most wanted to see in America, With
out a moments hesitation, he replied
with q voice deep with emotion:
II want to see your people. / want
to see the people of America because
| love Them, You are people whose
is that of the open heart
and fearless mind and it Is the great
est privilege of my life to meet you
in your own homes"
The cardinal was then asked re-
garding the time when he was under
by the Germans, and he
told of how he was delayed by his
captors in sending to the Associated
Press his answer to request for in