The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-01-18
ENGLISH CARDINAL OUTLINES
CAUSES AND EFFORTS OF RE-
CENT WORLD STRUGGLE-JUS-
TIcE AND EQUITY MUST BE VIM
= DIcATED BY GREAT NATIONAL
LEADERS,.


In a recent utterance Cardinal
Bourne, of England, gives the following
reflection on the work of the Peace
Conference.
Strain of War.
The terrible strain of war is now at
last approaching it's end. Only a
few months ago it seemed as if it
might be indefinitely prolonged. The
sudden peril at the end of March and
the beginning of April reused the
whole nation and empire to a sense,
never before felt to the same degree,
of imminent and present danger. The
unity of command under the supreme
leadership of a soldier of outstanding
genius and deep religious conviction
which was the immediate outcome of
that black fortnight has resulted in a
change in the battle area, east and
west, so stupendous as to be termed
by some miraculous. This at least is
certain; prayers of a public and nation.
al character have during the last few
months been poured forth at the
throne of God with fervor and fire.
quency not reached in the earlier
stages of the war. Those who believe
are conscious that the Almighty has
not failed to give ear to their suppl
cations.
Every week brings us nearer to the
day when the final issues must be de-
cided, not in the field of combat, but
at the council table. Those who have
shown themselves staunch and brave
and much-enduring in the often cloud
ed seasons Of the past four years will
have to show forth truth and justice
and self-restraint as the bright sun OF
the summer of victory begins to dawn
upon them. Gods help and guidance
invoked by constant prayer, are need
ed now as much as, if not more than
in the past
The immediate need is that there be
no relaxation of the self-impesed dis
cipline which has hitherto prevailed
Food and fuel must be sparseIy used
even when peace has come, and due
economy in their use is still then a
condition of complete victory. The
years that have passed in war have
been so Scared by sadness and trag
edy, SO many in our midst have hearts
sorrow-laden by their personal be
reavements, that there is small feal
that our rejoicing when peace is def
nitely proclaimed will lack the sober
ness and restraint that must mark al
true and humble thanksgiving which
is worthy of being offered to God. Let
there be none of the light-hearted and
unworthy manifestations which some
years ago marked our victory in very
different struggle.
Entitled to Reparation
What is to be our hearing when
conscious of Gods help in the day o1
our direst need, we are entitled to hol6
| ourselves as victors and are in the
presence of conquered foe? No one
has set forth more clearly than the
great Archbishop of Malines, Cardina
Mercier, the precise nature of Chris
tian duty in such circumstances. Ii
his letter of January, 1917, his Emi
nence traces with mastery hand the
place which anger and passion ant
the spirit of just vengeance, as op
| posed to the vice of hatred, have il
the virtue of charity.
| We are entitled to full and adequate
reparation for the injuries and wrongs
SO wantonly, so unjustly, so unneces
sarily inflicted upon us and our allies
by those who, for their own end, pro
voked this awful struggle. We are en-
titled-nay, it is our .duty-to take al
lawful means to render remote ant
impossible the renewal of such unjus
provocation. 1t will be seen how fa
these principles carry us from the fool
ish cry inspired by subversive ele
ments in Russia some months ago o
mo indemnities and no annexations.
Justice With Charity
The task before the allied nations
/ is to mingle justice rightly with char
ity AS Cardinal MERCER says, "Ther