The sun., 1917-09-22

An envelope addressed TO mo con-
tanned a printed leaflet bearing the
title Let the Peace Conference Con-
vene." by DR.. J. L. Magnes. 1t is
copy of an address delivered at the
so-called Peoples Council Of Amer
lea" at Chicago on September 2. In
the same envelope I found q note
which read as follows:
I should much appreciate such COM
msnt on this address A. you would care
to make. ]. l.. MAaNDs.
II the author had sent me a copy
Of his address ere he delivered It and
before he had 1t printed and distrib-
uted broadcast, / would have consid-
cred It q private affair. and, cared.
l would have made such comment on
1t In a private letter as might have
dissuaded him from making the step.
But since the thing is done, I deem
1t my duty to have my comment pub
lished through the press.
I shall not try to mince words.
will be as blunt as my heart feels
about 1t.
DR.. Magnes. you are a doctor Of
divinity. of Jewish divinity, and a
rabbi. When you speak your aim Is
to voice the sentiments of your people.
Men like you ought to be mighty care
full before they decide to participate
in such a movement.
The purport OF your address was
and is to induce the American Gov
ernment to begin peace negotiations
with the enemy, although our Govern
ment does not think that the time
has arrived to do so. Your argumen-
tation and trend of thought are SIM
liar to those Of the German Govern
ment, which wishes to have peace
now ami not wait until its backbone
Of militarism is broken forever; II
would favor any conditions of peace
which would give II the status quo
ante bellum in order to prepare again
for the conquest Of the world.
But / shall not discuss with you
high politics. This Is not my purpose.
What ! intend to do is to show you
that as a representative Jew you have
committed great blunder.
To be frank. must admit that we
Jews are egotists. However, we are
not exceptions. All mankind Is so.
When the great worlds war broke
out. a good many OF our race were
in favor Of Germany. Not because
German Kultur is the paramount is
sue for the welfare of humanity at
large and Of Jews in particular. but
because Of two evils, Russia and Ger
many. We chose the lesser, that Of
Germany, whose injustice to the Jews
was not as great as that OF Russia.
But after Russian autocracy fell and
crumbled, we, as we'll as the rest OF
humanity, perceived only one great
evil. and that was the autocracy OF
Germany.
The ordinary Jewish people. fed for
years with hatred against their COM
mon enemy. Russia. had no time i'm
mediately to realize the great change.
1t was up to the Yiddlsh press. and
to representative men like you. to
preach the new gospel of fidelity to
reborn free Russia. and the hatred
due to the last autocratic government
OF the civilized world. Germany. 1t
was the solemn duty Of the Yiddish
press and Of gentlemen Of your calibre
to teach the common Jewish people
why our American Government en-
tered this war. how it wss utterly i'm
possible to stay any longer out OF It,
and then interpret the aims and pur-
poses Of our Government, which is
fighting for the characterization of the
world. and incidentally for the Anal
freedom Of our race.
You did not do this. You were still
sympathizing with Germany and help
ing her to reach the goal she was
striving for.
Do you know what 1t means to us
Jews II Germany should have peace
now on her own terms?
1t means that for German mon-
archical interests 1t does not pay TO