Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-06

to every one.
1t is on this case of Mr. Naive that wish to fix
your attention for moment, especially you
not, [ understand altogether unacquainted with it.
The young cleric Mr.. Naive, in private room
of private house--the seminary, to w.t. enjoy
ing his paytime with two of his fellow students. He
had sung sundry tunes, some religious secular
ones. 1t into his head to strike up the "Mar-
seaise," without thinking that outside in the street
a German listening. The next day the police
thrust their way into the seminary and threatened all
there with penalty-aways the respect for
The Hague convention If the author of the mischief
did not make himself known.
The generous minded student, not personally
known to me-I am anxious to emphasize that fact
hurried before his judges anxious above all to shelter
his fellow students.
man of good sense, do not say one of warm
heart would have pardoned him, would he not? or
else have congratulated the brave young
his act?
By means Mr.. Naive condemned to three
months Imprisonment More than that the rector of
the seminary, deemed answerable for bit of fun
Of which he could not have been aware, also
condemned to fine of 300 marks
Nor is this all. After whole months detention
your political department makes it known to the
heads of the seminary that if petition for pardon is
presented Mr.. Naive would be set free The petition
duly drawn up. 1t put into your own hands,
Baron. You received it. But at that moment it
seemed to you that German justice could only stoop
TO mercy after fresh inquiries and new reports which
had undergone his full sentence.
In face of facts edfyng-and there plenty
of others could cite-one hardly knows whether to
be angry or to smile when good writes in the
Monthly Correspondence, published by the committee
for the defense of German and Catholic interests
(much more German than Catholic) during the
tissue of Julv 1916, P 82) that the Belgian clergy
ought in justice to appreciate the frank benevolence
of the foreign holders of power" Gin Begum).
1t is true that the esteemed Mr.. Krebs professor
at Frburg in Breisgau-for it is to him that this
matter relates--asserts that he keeps himself "au
courant" of the newspapers and has made journey
through to study things there.
He does not like inquiries in which the voices
of opposing sides given. He deems it to hold
them by himself alone.
Protected by German BayORetS
But how is it that this good gentleman does not
feel how well, unchivalrous it is to attack
under the protection of German bayonets body of
clergy which he knows to be gagged?
When your newspapers bounded my letter.
"On My Return from Rome" if on some prey, and
put into my mouth prayer that epidemic might
break out among your troops asked his Excelency
the Governor General if he would Loyalty transmit
to my German and Austrian brethren in the Catholic
episcopate letter. in which showed that my ac-
make me talk nonaense 1t will be enough for
you to read page of the accompanying document
to become quite aware yourself that this is really
The context of my pastoral shuts out any logical pos
sibtv of this hateful interpretation.
The Governor General refused to agree TO my re-
quest, alleging that my pastoral had been published
in Germany, and that those who read it were in a
position to make correction, which l urged for them
selves.
But my pastoral had not been published in Ger
many ] should be very anxious to learn in what
paper, in what magazine its authorized text has been
given. Thus calumny runs its course.
An article, the of which is not known to
you, in the Frankfurter Zeitung, of Monday August
7, has picked it up and set it again III circulation
Is it too much to ask you, Baron, to deny this
untruth to obtain for me the of denying it?
Perhaps, therefore, you will consent to inform the
Monthly Catholic Correspondence more accurately
upon the frank benevoence of the foreign holders of
power Tin Belgium"
The foreign holders of power solemnly bound
themselves, by the Governor Generals circular dated
April o. to make acquisitions upon sin kind" And
provinces here paid forty millions the price of
this undertaking. But the monopozing of vegetables
potatoes flour, and butter the requisitonng of
horses go cruelty Is this freedom? Is
this benevOlence?
The foreign holders of power, who h,ve already
extOrted forty million Grancs) month + soon to
amount to thousand million (francs), at this
moment forcing the doors of the National Bank and
despong us of six hundred and twenty five million
marks which their way through the channel
of the German banks to swell the German Imperial
Loan. i. O., to furnish enemies with munitions of
war Oo be used) against us.F Is this freedom? Is
this benevOlence?
These deeds of violence, whether they originate
in the military justice" or in the political admins
traton repress patriotism also in sitting its ex-
preston; but do not believe, beg of you that ST.
lence (as to ths) indicates peace Think on the
words of Tacus: "They enforce silence and call it
peace" Let not pile up neXtinguishable hatred in
the Belgian heart War and its dongs are only to be
justified in so far they helps toward peace
Accept, Baron, the expression of my sincere
esteem
(Sgned) d. CARDINAL MERCER,
with this letter. addressed to Baron Won der
Iancken. also sent copy of my letter of August
m urefu
to forward to the German bishops.
fBy order dated December 10, 1914, the Belgian
people had to pay monthly contribution TO the of
forty million francs during BY order,
vember 10, 1915 this monthly contribution had to be
paid until further orders.
ion September 10 the German Government had
taken by violence all the money in German marks exist
ing in the National Bank and in the Sociee Generale
(TO BE CONTINUED)