New-York tribune., 1910-08-17
ESPERANTO ENTHUSIASM
A Glowing Tribute to It's Worth and
Progress

Sir: You do Esperanto scant justice III
this mornings editorial on the subject. The
need of a. neutral international language has
been painfully felt since nations first began
to develop commercial. political and social
relations with one another. In the last two
centuries more than hundred and hfty
elaborately wrought languages bear strik-
ing testimony to the intense realization OF
the need and the urgent effort to supply It,
BY the law of the survival OF the fittest
Esperanto nas taken front rank and most
of the others are buried in oblivion. The
transient success OF Eolapuk, despite its
fragrant defects, bore witness to the worlds
want. which is now adequately met by Es-
peranto.
This wonderful invention of DR.. Zamenhof
is notable not merely for Its philoIogical In
genuity, leading to marvellous simplicity,
but for the ationality of its vocabu-
larry rendering its assimila ton a most easy
task, for the extraordinary fiexibility by
which 1t is enabled to render the finest
shades of thought and to surpass any 1iV-
ing language in the perfection with which II
can provide adequate rendering for all
forms of literary expression. AS medium
OF translation ii excels any other known
language. natural or artificial. 1t is not
of mushroom growth, but has gradually
won its place under the hottest fire OF criti-
cism and amid all the discouraGements
which quickly tire out the early enthusiasm
which greets new and plausible PROPOSE
ton. 1t has grown steadily for twenty-one
years, and now possesses over eighty peri
odicaIs devoted TO its interest and mainly
published in the new language. 1t has
large and rapidly growing literature includ-
i,c~ b,,pd of ~ tpancIa fINnS Of
every description. and an immense mass of
original productions. 1t is euphonious
a. any of the Latin tongues. with much
larger gamut of expression. and is as avail
able for poetry as for prose Its adherents
are now numbered by the million, and are
distributed all over the earth's surface.
An enthusiastic group in Japan is spread
ing it throughout the Orient, and publishes
a we'll supported maga zine. The Red Cross,
the Good Templars the Bureau OF Ameri-
can Republics and numerous other bodies
of International scope have given recognf-
ton to it and found it of practical value.
The congress this week In Washington Is
the sixth annual gathering. At a single
congress more than thirty races have been
represented, the majority of delegates be-
ing of the plain people. and by no means
prodigies of schoa rship. Yet all business
as well as social affairs have been conduct
ed in Esperanto. and no difficulty has been
suffered by any of the attendants in under
standing or in being understood.
No national jealousies impede the prog
ress of Esperanto. It's adoption carries
with it no fear of destruction of the bal
ance OF power of influence by the nation
whose language is universally spoken. Its
spread emphasizes the cosmopolitan idea,
and tends irresistibIy In the direction of
universal peace. There are indeed many,
Including the inventor himself. TO whom
this constitutes the greatest claim of Es
peranto to the acceptance of the nations.
No other language can be so readily mas
tered or can so we'll serve the purpose of
the ordinary traveller. Its grammar is
concise and without complications or excep-
tons and it's pronunciation is so thorough
ly standardized that the variations sug
eested by you could not take place. 1t IS
the one language which can actually be
learned without a teacher and without fear
OF serious error in pronunciation or in con-
struction.
No E.sperantist is looking forward TO IAN
ultimate abandonment of all natural Ian
qua ges for an artificial universal one" The
aim is simply TO facilitate International in
tercourse. while leaving the natural Ian
gIlages TO develop In the fullest measure
for domestic use. In fact, it's influences
would be in favor of the preservation of
many of the lesser national tongues, with
the rich treasures of their literature. as
against the present encroachments OF the
more powerful languages. Far from re-
quirng "a revolution in the educational
systems of the world the mastery of Es-
perarfto IS possible with so little effort and
so compa ratively brief expenditure of
time as to become almost more a recrea-
ton than task. Its introduction would
prove an exceedingly simple matter; and
the advantageous results would speedily be
come apparent. The next few years will
see immense progress in tina
direction. The movement is growing with
enormous rapidity throughout Europe, and
the United States should not be left behind.
JAMES F. MORTON. Jr.
President of Mania ttan Esperanto Group.
New York Aug Is, 1910.
SIMPI ICl1Y OF ESPERANTO,