Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-10-12
HOST|L|T|ES NOT :
DESIRED BY THE
PLAIN PEOPLE
coLUM6iA'S PRESIDENT PUTS
BLAME FOR WAR UPON KINGS
PEOPLES NOT CONSULTED.

DIANE fOR WAN OPON KINGS
PEOPLES NOT CONSULTED.
! President Nicholas Murray Butler
delivered stirring address on the
/ European war and the lessons it is
teaching to this nation, says the
Transcript at the opening exercises
Of the i6lst session of Columbia
/ University The platform was crowd.
ed with the faculty in academic
robes, and the hall was filed with
the students, old and new
II is only a few weeks since Presi-
dent Butler returned from Italy after
fleeing from the war zone by way of
switzerland. He took an active part
In assisting American tourists, and
was one OF committee to lay before
the department of state upon his re-
turn the condition of the refugees
and to appeal for assistance for
them. He speaks of a long and init
mate conversation with the French
parliamentarian, NJ Jaures, shortly
before the latter was murdered by
a "war-crazed fanatic" He had
planned To spend the summer abroad
but FASTENED home when the war
began. After few Introductory sen.
fences OF welcome and congratulation
President Butler said in part:
our usual interests, however
great, our usual problems, however
pressing, all seem petty and insig-
niteant in view of what. has befal.
len the world while we were seek
ing rest and refreshment in the sum.
mer holiday
The great European scholars that
we would have welcomed here have
not come to us. They are killing and
being killed. Mankind is back In
The primeyal forest, with the ele.
mentai brute passions finding a truly
Eehdish expression. The only ap-
parent use OF science is TO enable
men to kill other men more quickly
and in greater numbers. The only
apparent service of philosophy is TO
make the worse appear the better
reason. The only apparent evidence
OF religion is the fact that divergent
and impious appeals to a palyably
pagan God, have led him, in per.
picked distress, to turn over the af.
fairs of Europe to an active and sin
IL
What are we to Think Is science
a sham? Is philosophy a pretense?
Is religion mere rumor? Are the
long labors of scholars and states
men to enthrone justice in the place
OF brute force in the world, all with.
out effect? Are Lowells lines true:
Right forever on the scaffold.
wrong forever ON the throne?
The answer is no, a thousand times,
mol
Despite all appearances, even in
THIS wicked and ceaseless war which
is decimating the flower of European
manhood; multiplying by the million
the widows, the orphans, the suffer.
ing and distressed; loosing the prim-
tive Instincts for sayagery and lust
even here there is to be found
something on which this university
may continue to build the temple of
wisdom.
We are neutral nation. and the
President has rightly enjoined us all
70 observe neutrality in speech and
In deed. But neutrality is not indif
Terence; 1t is not the neutrality of
the casual passer-by who views with
amused carelessness a fight between
TWO street rowdies, il is the neu-
trality of the just Judge who aims,
without passion and without preiu-
dice, 10 render Judgment on the
proved facts. We cannot if we
would refrain from passing judg-
ment upon the conduct of men
whether singly or in nations. and we
should not attempt to do so.
In the first place. the moral iudg.
mont of the American people as to
this war is clear. calm, and practic-
ally unanimous The attitude of the
American press is worthy of the
highest praise, in some notable in
I stances the very high-water mark of
dignity and of power has been
reached When the war-clouds have
lifted ! believe that the moral judg.
ment of the American people as to
/ this war will prove TO be that of the
soberminded and fair-minded men in
every country of Europe.
Next, II must not be forgotten
that this war was made by kings
and by cabinets; il was not decreed
by peoples can testify that the
statement that kings and cabinets
were forced into the war by public
sentiment is absolutely untrue, SO
FAR at east as several of the bellig
\ erent nations are concerned Ger
tainly in not more than two cases
we're the chosen representatives OF
the people consulted at all