New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-24
THE ATTITUDE OF THE CZECHS
No Reason to Believe That They Sympathy with the Central fowe
Their Culture and Passion for Liberty

they are satisfied with their state Of subjuga-
ton.
What have the Germans done for the coun-
try since their accession to power? The ma
tional literature of the country was de-
stroyed; the foremost educators and spiritual
leaders were executed or sent into exile; the
lands of the prosperous were confiscated, and
ignorance became the inheritance of once ed
ucated people The Czechs of to-day, as OF
old, are yearning and struggling for free
dom. After centuries OF subjugation and per-
secution the rejuvenated nation has set itself
10 the task of enlightening its people and
training them for usefulness and happiness
and this with a spirit Of self-sacriice when
is worthy of large measure OF praise
The questions may well arise in the minds
Of American readers Is Bohemia entitled TO
independence? Is she capable Of sef-gov-
ernment? Are her people suthclently ad-
yanced to merit this trust? In answer 10
these questions we can only ask the Ameri-
can public TO read the glorious history OF
Bohemas past. No greater and more heroie
fight has ever been put up than the s,russ.e
of the Czechs for the maintenance OF tne'r
independence No other nation OF her SIZE
has contributed so much to civilization hnu
social advancement as Bohemia. she brough'
Professionalism to Continental Europe; she
was the first to fight for, to bleed Tor anu
to champion the cause of reformation one
furnished the first quota of martyrs on the
altar of religious liberty Who knows not OF
the immortal John Huss and the illustrlous
Jerome of Prague? Their martyrdom haa
set ablaze the whole continent OF Europe
from which conhagration she emerged bet
fer and a freer land. What scholar knows
not Of Comenius, Copernlcus, hepler anu
Zenger? ..o;-
But the Czech people do not base their
claims for freedom only on their achleVe.
rents in the dim past. The Czech people OF
to-day stand out prominently as the most
advanced and progressive people OF austria
There is less illiteracy in bohemia thah ~
any other country in the world. Ihough ou'
a few years have passed since the rees'aD'
lshment of the Czech division OF the OniVe'
sity Of Prague, it has already far outstriPpeu
the German division of the university, pom
in the number of students as well as III Ihe
quality of the work done. Ihls was aceo''-
plished in spite of the fact that the uei ma
division is given unqualified support OF 'ns
government, while the progress OF the C%e."
division is harassed as much as possipie W
tho same. The Czechs are voracious readers
and evbibit profound thirst for knowledge
and advancement. Till but few years aso
the government made impossible the exist
ence of free and independent press IN
deed press censorship made newspaper pun
LEGATION impossible in Bohemia. Inc com
narative emancipation of the Czech press IN
the recent years was followed by mar
vellous growth of Czech Journalism AS
result. Bohemia boasts to-day OF greater
number per capita of papers, magazines ahu
periodicals of high literary standards than
anv other country in Europe. These are not
svmntoms of degeneracy and Incompetence
Monroe. the we'll known American historian
saws Of the Czeehs: "Their extraordinary de-
veionment in the creative arts-litersture'
naming. Observation-Disclosures a range OF ar
tistie pursuits and an extent of artistic adj
;tv that is unsurpassed by the cultured nations
~ Europe" Why, then, should they be de-
MED the privileges of freedom and self-goV-
eminent? They are looking wistfully to the
closing Of the war, for in the consummstloh
~ neace they see a spark of hope of DO
hemia's deiverance from the Austrian yoAe'
7 take upon myself the responsibility ior
saving. in the name of the whole Czech cru
zenship of America, that in case OF confiie'
with Germany and Austria President wilson
will never find more willing sacrifice and
more loyal supporters than in the american
Bohemians. H. n. MiA
New Haven, Conn, Feb. 6, 1917.