The chronicle=news., 1915-01-09

u OpHuiu IuSlauu.
New York, Jan. s.-After carrying
on controversy through the press
for some months. George Sylveste er
| Nicrick. editor of The Fatherlnnd.
poet and author. has accepted the
challenge OF Mr.. Cecil Chestorton.
editor OF The New Witness. poet and
author, and brother of Gilbert *.
| IChesterton. to Il joint. debate on the
subject. Whether the Cause OF the
Germans or of the Allies is just
Mr.. Chestcrton issued his chal-
| lcnge through Louis II. Wctmorc, his
representative in this country and
former literary editor of the New
York Times. The debate will be held
at the Cort Theatre at S:@0 sunday
evening. January Il. So that the
house may not be packed by the ad-
hcrents OF either cause ii has been
arranged between Mr.. Nicreck and
Mr.. Wotmorc that each party shall
dispose of half the seating capacity.
The proceeds of the debate are 10
be divided equally between Mr.. Nicr-
eek aud Mr.. ChcstcTton: Mr.. Ches-
terton to give the substatiai part oI
his share 10 the Belgian relief fund,
while Mr.. NiereCk will give his en-
tire share of the proceeds to the Ger
man and Austrian Red Cross. In or
der to still further maintain the ju-
dicial atmosphere, two chairmcu Will
serve during this joint talkfest. Mr..
Wetmore. who is an American Of En-
siish sympathy, will hold the chair
when Mr.. NicreCk speaks, and Prof
Shepherd. Of the history department
at Columbia University. an Ameri-
can OF German sympathies, will pre-
side when Mr.. Chcsterton speaks. Mr.,
Chesterton. while not quite as well
known as his brother, Gilbert X
Chesterton. has an extremely large
English following and an established
reputation throughout the English
speaking world as u poet. author and
Dublicist. Through his Champion
ship of the cause of the Allies in the
columns of The New Witness, Mr.
Clrsterton has become one OF the lit
crary swords Of the Allies cause. His
arguments. while strongly anti-Gcr-
man, have been widely quoted be
cause their logical reasoning.
Mr.. Niereck. widely known as
poet and author before the beginning
of Continental hostilities has. If
possible, added to his reputation by
the able way in which he has promul-
gated the German side of existing
European conditions.
Probably no two men could be
brought together whose ideals. while
widely divergent. would more clearly
eXpound the viewpoints of the oppos-
ing sides in today's world conflict.
The challenge and its acceptance
were wordcd rs follows:
December s, 1914
'My dear Viereck You and I
have Quarrcled i'll our dag about
many things, but these now seem
but minor matters compared to tho
immensely OF this war. To you this
war is. | believe. what may be
termed Il selfish attempt to stranglc
Germany by nations infinitely infer
ior to your Fatherland. To me the
war is something quite difforent-it
is war to destroy that form of slay-
cry which Prussia has always and
everywhere defended.
Lincoln has said that Slave States
and Free States cannot exist side by
side in Il commonwealth; | agree. Nor
ran they in Europe. | believe that
the existence of the comfy. of Euro
pean nations is Inconsistent with the
continued presence of a strong milf
tary power acting upon the anti
moral assumptions of Prussia. Eth
er all Europe. if not the whole
world. must become Prussiani2ed-
which God forbid-or else Prussia
must be destroyed.
AS we have debated things to-
gcther in the past, so would | like
to have debated with You this mar
vclous subject Of the War to Free
| the World, But a man has stepped
forth from our armN--a dou ghty
champiOn--a man much more cap
able of defending our Cause than
myself, that | must. in Justice to our
cause give way to him. Cecil Ches-
| lcrtCn has asked me to convey to you
! his challenge to debate Whether the
| Cause of Germany or Of the Allies
is Just VIII you do ii? VIII you
| come forward to defend those things
we know that we hate but which YOU
say you love- We fling our gauut-