The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-04
.CARD|NA AL MERGER IS ENTHUSIASTIC OVER TRIP HERE Thought of Visiting Ameri- ca Uppermost In His
 Mind. WANTS TO THANK
 PEOPLE FOR HELP Cardinal World Figure,
 Speaks With
 Authority.

Old Orchard, Me-, Aug. 3-Lieut Col. John Van Schaick, Jr., Red Cross Commissioner for Belgium, speaking at Terry Beach tonight be- fore the National Convention of the Young Peoples Christian Union of the Universa1ist Church, said:
 Just before I left Belgium I went Mercier. His trip to the United States next month was uppermost in his mind.
 "I am too old a man" he said jokingly, to make such @ long voy- age. I am needed here. I don't see how I can get away. But I shall never be happy until I meet your people face to face and thank them for sav- ing Belgiunk'
 "I told him that Protestants and Catholics, Democrats and Republicans would all unite in a great welcome to him. I said that the thing our peo- pie believe about him is that he Is fearless and independent and would put the obligation of right higher than the obligation of anything else in the world. He replied that our people are too kind in their judgment of him, that his path has been plain, that it was a path of simple duty and he wanted to use all his influence he said, to promote a better under standing among all classes of people and all nations and that there is noth- ing better worth working for than real human brotherhood.'
 The American Red Cross got into touch with Cardinal Mercier as soon as 1t began to deal with Belgium It turned to him as it did to Wander velde, the Socialist, and Hymans, the Liberal, not as party men or church men but as great leaders of the peo- pl.
 ''The Cardinals chief aid in all his minican priest. Pere Rutten, who may come with him, a man of won derful magnetism and devotion. It was a sight for the gods to see what I saw, the Dominican and the Social ist Vandervelde sitting down together to plan for Belgium.
 Cardinal Mercier Is a world fg- ure. He can speak with auth ority of world duty because he has been faith full to national duty and personal duty.
 He reso1utely faced the Germans in Belgium for over four years He was too astute to be trapped He was too open and fearless to be bull lied. He was too great a power in the world outside to be arrested and executed. He remained to the end a thorn In the flesh of the Germans and a rallying point for the Belgiums under the heel of the invader.
 "Only one thing in Cardinal Mer- cier was stronger than his desire to have his country free. It was the passionate determination which actu- ated King Albert to have the coun- try true to honor. Better be dead than dishonored,' said the Cardinal, Is the rule for a man. Better be an- initiated than dishonored is the rule for a country. No country exists just for itself
 King Albert and Mercier did not say to Belgium in 1914, Tt will be proftably materially in the long run to resist the German They said, Tt may mean annihilation. But 1t is right Our word is pledged. We must choose honor.'
 we must put warmth fin our well come of Mercier. Good priests have died on the battlefelds. Nuns have given their lives caring for the sick and afflicted The great Cardinal has been one of the forces for vic- tory"