The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-02-08
WHERE HATRED EXPIRES

The Observer has been inter.
ested in an address which has
been published by the American
, Association for international
Cancellation, on "The Land
Where Hatred Expires" 1t was
delivered before the young peo-
pie at some school not named,
by Albert Leon Guerard, who is
professor of history in French
allure at Rice Institute, Hous
ton, Texas. Professor Guerard
came to America nine years ago
with shipload of immigrants,
a motley crowd who have by this
time become Americans, one and
all. 1t must not be understood,
however, that Professor Guerard
was in the steerage. He cannot
abide sub-nationalities under
the Stars and Stripes, and he
hates the look of such words as
French-Americans, English-Am-
orleans or German-Americans.
1t is only the good French
men, the good Germans, the
good Russians, that will make
good Americans. He speaks for
our debt to Germany, this Fren-
Gilman does. He wants us to love
nd respect Italy, to remembe,
the chivalrous and mystic spirit
of old Spain, and the vast, vague
nd mighty spirit of Holy Rus.
sia, the land of sorrow, and he
would have us know the smiling
heroism and the artistic witch
cry of the Japanese. Americans
can afford to do this, he says.
because this is indeed "the land
where hate expires" the land of
universal reconciliation. This is
the land where all are given a
fair chance, and where English.
men, Frenchmen, Austrians.
Russians, Germans can meet on
a common ground of democracy.
Justice and good fellowship
vhere they have at last a chance
OF becoming acquainted with
one another, and, knowing one
another, to appreciate and love.
For hatred is but the child of
ignorance; all education consists
in unlearning hatred. Professor
Guerard relates that one of his
ary good friends on the Rice
faculty is a fiery young Prus-
sian. "If we We're both in Eu-
rope" he says. eve would be
hurting at each other bombs.
shrapnels, hand grenades, asph-
yXiating gases. and other inven- |
'ons of the Father of Wars
here, we do not hurl even epith- |
cts at each others heads, but |
meets socially, and even are able
to discuss with tolerable cool
ness the philosophy of the pres
sent conflict"
Professor Guerard thinks
there is something in the Amer
can atmosphere that is deadly
hatred and he has perhaps
-ound the reason for Americas
sanity as a Nation-the power
hat enables her to welcome men
rom all parts of the world and
urn them into loyal citizens-in
hat it is a country that looks
.orward, instead of backward,
country whose ideals are prin-
,iples instead of traditions. And
he also points out the trouble
With Europe. TRADITIONS, Gus
;oms, institutions, dynasties,"
le says, "have cast their potent
spell over the minds of our Eu-
'opean friends. They are haunt
I'd with memories of the gorg-
eous and tragic past; and in the
'hadowy world in which they
i've they have lost the. sense of
actual values" He points to the
strange paradox that the best
educated of all European Nations
s also the most bigoted in its
bride and selfshness; that the
hateful prejudices which have
caused the present war have
Ceen kept up not by the common
0eople, but by poets, politicians
and University professors. His
wise conclusion is that what Eu-
rope needs is a great unlearning,
a mighty revolution against the
dead hand of the past-Charlotte
Observer.