The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-23
ARCADE'S AMBSI.
Kuno Lauds Jim Larkin and Rctakcs the
United states

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir. MY
attention has been drawn to the paragraph
about myself in THE SUN OF December
rs. I admire its cleverness and think it
altogether one OF the cunningcst pieces or
American journalism ] have yet seen.
That the appearance on the same platform
OF a professor from the great centre OF
kultur and OF the Irish labor leader
should excite wonder in the democratic
country par excellence certainly gives food
for reflection. Perhaps some people might
class 1t among the many strange alliances
and comradcships which this war has
brought about. But Jim" IL an old friend
of mine from Liverpool days. where
learned TO appreciate his fine, manly quail
;les, his noble heart and his interchangeable
work. both In the cause OF the working
classe and that of Ireland as he and I
understood 1t.
We are now more than ever united BY
our hatred OF English tyranny and OPP
preston, cunning and falseness. II our
cause does not find favor in your eyes.
| fight Il and us with clean weapons, but
do not misrepresent IL by calling him an
anarchist and me anti-American. Before
YOU write another article on Mr.. Larkin
read Jsmes Connollys Labor In Irish
History tMaunsel g. Co, Dublin. 1910.
IL my friend sometimes expresses himself
too holly and strongly. remember that he
witnessed the Black Sunday OF Dublin,
the shooting down OF many innocent men
aud women by order OF the British Gov
eminent Besides. in these excitahle
times we are all of us liable TO being
occasionally carried off our feet, YOU
yourself not excepted.
knew practically nothing OF your coun-
try and people before landed here a few
weeks ago In that short time ] have
learned to admire and envy many OF your
institutions. to appreciate warmly the
, broad and refined culture OF many OF your
men and women. culture higher in many
ways than thai either OF Germany or Eng
land NJ tho same time permit me TO say
that among the many things that move me
to admire there is neither your press nor
vour Interpretation OF what should con-
stitutc neutrality. nor the general attitude
of the people, who SET up as judges while
they are after all only mere lockers on.
| more or less prcJudiced and not possessing
that knowledge and Information which
alone would enable them 30 arrive at true
verdict. That such knowledge cannot be OBJ
tanned in a hurry. or by discussions. or In
the state OF excitement and tension pre-
vailing at present. every student OF his
tory or politics will agree.
final word about my quarrel with
Harvard OF which the press has given a
| false account When the president OF
Harvard. without word of regret or
excuse. cancelled the engagement under
which 7 was 10 lecture before the unlver-
| s!ty on ancient Irish lyrical poetry be-
cause my utlnB 80 alteT the speech l mao
| at tho meeting OF the C,an-na-Gael would
violate the spirit Of neutrality. 7 folt boil
! puzzled and aggrieved. puzzled because
| the president and my good friends at Har-
ward knew before they engaged me that 7
was bound 20 be pro-German. pro-1rlsh and
therefore and-English. For more than
twenty years 7 have lahored in my own
wa for the cause OF Irish nationalism,
and 20 imagine that I would cease doing
| so az this supreme moment merely because
md myself among people section OF
whom are hostile TO Il Is an absurdity.
| II ;heir spirit OF neutrality is as narrow
! as that they should never have invited mo.
| But 10 refuse to listen on such grounds
20 lecture on lyrical poetry OF thou
| sand wears ago Is another absurdity At
! the University OF Columbia a good num-
| Der OF people listened TO mo without any
/ harm TO their souls or minds. and 10 assert
1 that used the opportunity 10 let Off some
| OF he political venom which am sup
| posed TO carry about with me Is neither
! true nor nicely said feel aggr!eved
because this action OF President Lowell
/ prevents me from visiting Harvard and
renewing my acquaintance with old friends
! there. | may add that ! am not the only
German professor 10 whom the portals o.
| that university have thus been closed since
| the outbreak OF the war
KuSo MEYER.
| NEW York December 90