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

is not the perfect symbol of the German occupation of
enemy begerent nations? These noble souls that
run the risk of the most severe punshments, even
eectrocution, to go and defend their country, can
you impute it crime to priest that he should
share this admiration? Some of these brave youths
fall by the way victims of their patriotic bravery.
Are they not more than sufficient ransom Tor your
military regulations?
Others reach their goal and add few units to
the handful of soldiers of the User, but can they
disquietude to an army of eight and half
million? This last remark is not mine, but it was
flung at us months ago by one of your most promi-
nent Chiefs 1t not the time then to take it up
Third. Your Excellency has, you say, to guard
German security die "deutsche Scherheit, and must
therefore take account of every act likely to bring
about uncomfortable situations, "unhaltbaren Zustan
den."
Such indefinite expressions not of kind to
promote the understanding for which Excellency
had craved my cooperation. Certainly the Governor
Generals vigilance should include the whole army
of occupation; but should it sacrifice thereto the Bel
gian people? Your Exceency is kind enough TO re-
peat that you have at heart the welfare of the
country intrused to your administration. countrys
chief blessing is its liberty Treat pray you, the
Belgans as a nation not yet conquered. Do not ex
asperate them by claiming to stife in their breasts
their hopes of better time to come. Your vigilance
will be thereby less frequently demanded.
He Speaks for the Nations Soul
We too are concerned to reconcile the welfare
of the Belgians with the security of the Germans for
we aim at respecting the rights of nations. Thus
whatever turn military operations may day take,
shall preach to people what we have preached
to them long before your regiments ever trod the
Belgian SOIL namely, that must commit to our
army and to loyal allies the defense of lib
erty.
Your Excelency sees but danger to the
public order the extolng of the virtue of patriotism
see another, the evaporation of people unustly
oppressed.
Your Excellency sees but one remedy for the
evil that you fear, Might another and better
one, respect for civic dignity.
believe understand better than any foreigner
tile Belgian peoples soul
Fourth Anxious to obvate misunderstanding,
your Excelency devotes the second part of your let
ter to statement of principles the situation of
the occupying power, the responsibilities which
weigh upon you, on the method by which you intend
to govern
On this point, Baron, there is between a funda-
mental and rreducble divergence.s
A nation has only legitimate supreme author
ity two quite inconcevable.
AS long Belgium is not recognized by interna-
tional law constituent part of the German Empire,
the occupied provinces legally and morally depend
their legitimate government and on it alone.
The occupying power possesses authority "de
facto" but can claim right" to such possession.
The occupied country has to submit to the ode
facto" authority.
Obedience as moral obligation, is due only to
the authority of the legitimate government which, de-
spite the momentary obstacles limiting its sovereign
prerogative, is and remains the government of the
country.
l am quite aware this legitimate government
quires to accept, without any signs of external
dsaection, the regulations Of the occupying power,
long these violate neither international law
dignity patriots. l also that
with theSp neOti
ment expects to observe these regulations in order
thus to spare Belgium falling into a condition
than that which has been imposed on it by force.
1t is for these reasons we respect these regula-
tions ourselves and enjoin others to do the same.
But when the occupying power violates The Hague
convention does violence to dignity as
as citizens of the Belgian nation, must raise
voice in protest. Your Excellency attempts to
se this protest and to yourself the right to
speak, saying that. "You alone qualified to Judge
of what the public order and the welfare of our
population demand"
Excuse me, your Exceency. The Hague conven-
tion is not decree of occupying power, but an
international contract This contract Germany has
signed in the same way Belgium. We power
less to restrain the power of your military arm but
we have the right and at the time the duty, of
satisfying our conscience in reminding you that an
account will be exacted from you day before the
international tribunal of The Hague and also before
history of the use or misuse you have made of the
weapons of power.
The empire that you represent has pledged itself
at The Hague never to misuse this power, if ever it
came into possession of it. You are bound in con-
science by this pledge. Kant, to whom must be at
trbuted the perverson of all German philosophical
speculation and against whose influence am proud to
have struggled throughout my career divorces right
from morality. Hence the notion which Identifies
right with authority devoid of aught save the
simple power of coercion. Against this arbitrary
menta. identification, justifying it does despotism
the conscience of humanity protests
fear your Excellency, in spite of your natural
uprghtness and religious sentiments and the promise
made to us, in writing in conversation to alleviate
misfortunes and to heal wounds is dominated
unconsciously by this false notion of government
Thus it is that today you declare to expect from
stern severity alone the consolidation of your power
of occupation.
Receive, dear Governor General, the expression Of
my sincere esteem.
(Signed) D. j. CARDINAL MERCER,