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A Significant Suggestion

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 24, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 43.

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A Significant Suggestion

By Editor

The astute diplomacy with which Rome carries on her work commands the attention of every student of history. Important plans or policies are often suggested from some apparently obscure and unauthorized source. If they arouse too much criticism and opposition, they are disowned by Rome, and dropped until a more favorable time, when they may be brought forward again. Finally they will be announced by proper authority.
We are reminded of this policy by a suggestion that has recently appeared in a New Jersey paper:—
“A movement is under way to secure an addition to the Cabinet of the President of the United States of a secretary of peace. It is also proposed to have this question presented to the representatives of every world power now in session at the International Peace Congress at Geneva, Switzerland, with a view to establishing this office generally in national councils. It is reported that President Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, and Governor Wilson are to be approached, and their views on the proposition ascertained. A special committee, representing most of the peace organizations, a number of religious denominations, with no idea of sectarianism, is to present the subject to presidential candidates, it is said.
“The first suggested choice for this office, it is understood, is James Cardinal Gibbons. It is urged that ‘his influence would be powerful in preventing future conflicts between the United States and Catholic nations.’ He has been a prominent speaker on occasions when world peace has been the subject, the dedication of the Pan-American Union building at Washington in 1910, the third National Peace Congress at Baltimore in 1911, and other occasions. The proposed office is to be advisory in character and to carry no special authority. The exact draft of this plan for presentation to presidential candidates is not to be made public until after they have received the question.”—Newark Evening News, Oct. 5, 1912.
We shall wait to see whether this ‘feeler’ will be repudiated by Rome, or whether it will be followed up and an attempt made to put Cardinal Gibbons or some other member of the Roman hierarchy into the President’s Cabinet.