TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1916-04-28

Your address on The Duties o.
Americans In the Present War
reminds We very strangely OF an
incident OF my college days. A
certain respected professor OF philo-
sophy vas put 10 the test In the
following manner A neighbor built
a house on an adjoining lot in such
a position as to share with him a
glimpse Of a beautiful lake, thereby
partially obstructing his view Of the
State House. Forgetting all the fine
philosophy he had been teaching, he
ordered a tight board fence TO be
constructed, high enough to com
pletely shut OF his new neighbor's
view Of the lake. The students re-
garded this practical application OF
philosophy with astonishment az first,
then with amusement and finally Ia a
spirit OF gentle hazing," a group Of
them one night painted this admoni
ton from his own teachings on the
s~pite-fence to the great amusement
Of the public:
"Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you"
You have been for many years a
respected teacher and wf1ter OF
philosophy. A great tragic war has
broken out among the kinsmen OF
the American people Ia Europe,
setting your kinsmen against my
kinsmen in deadly combat. Another
philosopher is put to the test and
with what result. You abandon the
principles Of sane thinking that you
have so ably championed and descend
to the level OF the curbstone orator
melting the mob 20 war. Not
content to conine your efforts to
your friends and neighbors in Boston,
you thrust your fremont Temple
speech ringing with toryism, into my
home and the homes Of thousands
whom you do not know and do not
understand any better than you com
prehend the war itself.
With your personal one-sided view
of the great European tragedy, with
your personal assessment OF the
degree Of guilt against the several
governments involved, | am not con
cerned at all, SO long as your views
remain mere private views. But
am concerned when you deliberately
set on foot, as you and your as
sociates publicly declare that you
do. q movement TO involve our com
mon country In the most infamous
wal in human history. In effect you
ask me to assist your kinsmen
dwelling In the British Empire, to
murder, MAIN and utterly crush the
MNsFIAn- ~ r4w Awu FmFh n~tu 1AA 1
mothers brothers and sisters and
their eountrymen, dwelling In Ger
many. Encircled by an iron ring
of nations In arms, 1t is plain what
my kinsmen are fighting for. They
are fighting heroically to keep out
invaders whose leaders. since exposed
and discredited, openly boosted
twenty years ago: IF Germany we're
extinguished tomorrow, the day after
tomorrow there iss net an English
man In the world who would not be
richer. Nations have fought for years
yer a city or a right Of succession.
Must they not fight for two hundred
million pounds Of commerce?"
You revive that exploded sham
about Belgium, invented to decorate
the recruiting posters. to mislead
a nation into war, denounced more
than a year ago by Professor r. c.
Conybeare Of Oxford in these burning
words: "All Grey's answers to Kier
Hardie on August 27 (about Ger-t
many's proposal to respect Belgian
neutrality are thus a model OF hard
lying. Naturally the House Of Com
mons, having been utterly hood
winked by him, applauded. Presently
they will send him Il the gallows.
] doubt IL even Asquith knew Of this