New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-09
SCHOLARS AS PATRIOTS
Their Tn,emperance Denounced as
Disgraceful Spectacle.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


sty in his annual report calls attention u,
the shocking spectacle offered By some
the most noted scholars and scientist, A,
the world. who, with the advent Of the ?,
ropean war. seem 70 have lost all sense
what is true, honorable and becoming |.
indecd disgraceful exhibition, and il nah.
rs wonder what culture means That .,,,
men who are living in either one Of u,
countries involved may have their perceu.,f
obscured by lack Of perspective and By ~
heat Of passion can be understood and, p.,J
haps. condoned, but the same semblanes q,
excuse cannot be made for the same clas, q.
men identified with American uriversiti.,
Yet, from a certain venerable ex-presia.p,
/ Of famous university down 20 the hither,,
obscure professor each has grasped son,
more or less authentic fact tina. agrees viii
I his likes or dislikes, and weaves around ii,
same a fabric Of argument and assertio,
Very often this conyinces the average reads
or listener, because the writer or the speak
or is one whose position entities him 70 COZ.
sideration.
+ have come 20 the conclusion that mos
men, once they reach comparatively proni
nent position, lose all sense Of humor Th,J
arc usually taken seriously BY the peop,
and that leads them to consider themse.y.,
almost infallible. This results in the,
erouncing their personal views in such
dogmatic and sober manner that the critic,
reader or listener feels almost Ike smin,
~ their imposing comments. Columbia Tn.
versity in the last few years has beeor,
especially prominent as a leader in the e.
change Of international thought, and Il Il
therefore unfortunate that some Of IA
teachers have failed 70 maintain the eorrss
and impartial attitude which is necessary Il
inspire confidence in their discussions q
the causes and effects Of the present war
How little they sometimes apply their teach
ings 70 practice.
For instance, We have been laugh, BY or,
Of the most popular professors az Coumbh
that, given certain initial temperature Ii.
efficiency Of heat engine is In proportic,
10 the decrease IN the temperature Of Ii,
exhaust Now, what must be our concls
SIGN when this same est!mable gentlema,
whilc induging in the very laudable process
Of defending the actions Of his native eoun.
try exhales remarks about the enemy at
temperature far in excess Of his normal one
The result will be that future students mar
entertain serious doubts as to the truth Of
the theories he propounds. They may ther
question his statements which nobody ever
thought Of doing before. Then, again,
Columbia professor goes 10 deal Of troub,
70 show that Germany has no literature. Herr
once more we shall have TO change out view,
as developed from our course in that brsn,s
of learning. Surely the librarian should Q1iei-
" proceed 70 discover 10 what nationally
Goethe, Schiller, Hene and a Few OttsH
belong.
Let il be considered for moment thnu
opinions are worth consideration II they are
not based on facts, not merely ISOLATED
case, but a prepondersnce OF them. Other
wise. such opinions cannot but hurt the rep
utation of the man who expresses then
For instance, President Butler in bis sd'
dress at the opening OF the academic year
referred to a statement made TO him by
German railway servant that this Is not
peoples war, that it is kings war, and be
calls this the most significant statement, he
heard in Europe. On the other hand d.
David Starr Jordan, in speaking before the
/ College Association, said that sit Is no u"
10 try 70 find out who brought about TIE
war. There is no man big enough; none oaa
enough" Notwithstanding the fact that he
Sage of Aurora 10 sure that Bill Kaiser
lifted the lid off hell, think we can ssisI
agree with DR.. Jordan when he states that
the war is the product Of impersonsl hatFef
fostered in Europe.
As we'll said by DR.. F. Boa1 in an abe
article on "The Race-War Myth conditions
in Europe are ineligible only when we re-
member that by education patriotism Is SUI
rounded by a halo Of sanctity and that ha'
tional self-preservation is considered the hfs'
duty. Devotion TO the nation is taught
the paramount duty and is instilled into us
minds Of the young IN such form that VIVA
il grows a feeling OF hostility against 81
other nations" Ir my opinion, and SPEAK
from experience, that Is the best analysis
the situation.
Born in Germany. was brought TO Pans
when less than three years DID, and llVea W'
next fifteen years in that city or course
French became my vernacular, and that isa
guage was always spoken in my home ~
older brother was born in France and n!
two sisters married Frenchmen. Had ! no.
come to this country twenty-five years AZ,
for which accident | am duly thankful
would probably have remained in France anG'
necessarily, would be serving in the fre.'A
army now. Yet many times indeed "hs-
we were brought into contact with peOp'
who had not known US for some time we wsle
shown the feeling of hostility that Dr. p0a,
mentions as soon as these people learned
our origin. In everything, language ana ~
sociations, we were then French; stlI' u'
feeling Of hostility could be felt 10,
Frenchman who had travelled in Germs0y'V
course. did not entertain that same sen"
men', and it is because the French tra'ei
little in foreign countries that they nave a.'
learned 20 appreciate other people. ana y.
ticularly the Germans In spite OF some -
periences OF that kind which have LETT sores
love the French people and have good 'n'''
I excellent friends Of that nationality. g.,