A MALICIOUS ACCUSATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1829, 21 May 1918, Page 3

A MALICIOUS ACCUSATION.

Our readers will remember that some time since a letter appeared in our correspondence columns from Mr J.. Golder, in which ho stated Hint a certain individual had accused (he Rev. Father Corley of being a German spy. The accusation was entirely disproved by the reverend gentleman, and documentary evidence of his Belgian parentage and American naturalisation produced. Naturally, The Rev. Father Corley was much upset at the false accusation, and he was subjected to suspicion. All who came into personal contact with Father Corley, however, knew his views concerning the German invasion of his native land and his outspoken hatred of Prussian militarism and diabolical methods 'of oppression. His loyal and patriotic! public utterances on behalf of Great Britain and her allies in the present Avar stamped him as anything but unpatriotic or disloyal. In a speech in August of last year he said “middling virtue, Avhich may exist in time of peace, cannot survive in time of Avar. Itmust either expand into heroism or sink intp baseness.” He implied that a citizen Avas either a patriot or a traitor. As a citizen of Foxton he proved himself to bo a patriot in Avord and deed. Father Corley’s Foxton friends will be pleased to read the folloAving letter from the American Consul, Avhich needs no comment from us, and upon Avhich the public can dnnv their oavh conclusions: —

“American Consular Service,

“Wellington, N.Z., 3/5/1918

“My Dear Father Corley.—l am constrained to write and express to you my sympathy in connection Avith the dastardly.insinuations that; have been made regarding your patriotism. KnoAving you as I do, loyal American citizen, I can conceive no more dastardly and foul slander than that at present hinted by some of yqnr enemies in this little country. If I can be of any service in helping you to bring the offenders, to book, command me. Again assuring you of my deep 1 concern about the unjust things hinted at, Avith my very best Avishes, believe me to be, ahvays your sincerely, ‘ “A. E. WHYTE.”