The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-04-20
Try "BLUE RIBBON" Cigar, Sc.
A LETTER OF
EXPLANATION

Once more great educator has
been compelled to withdraw from a
because of the exercise of
his constitutional right to express his
opinion on subjects vital to the well
fare of the people Read it:
Dear Mr.. Editor:
During the past few days num-
Der of prominent Toledo citizens have
made statements indicating that my
further continuance at Toledo Uni
versity will prove detrimental to the
welfare of that institution. In order
that the Board of Directors may feel
free to act for the best interests of
the University, / have rendered my
resignation to take effect at their
discretion.
My utterances on the question Of
paciism and patriotism have led to
the storm of criticism that has been
directed against me and against the
University. May l take this oppor-
tunity to make clear my position?
l am opposed to tyranny, despot-
ism and irresponsible power, whether
vested in king, kaiser or any other
individual or group of individuals.
l believe in democracy and in the
brotherhood of all men. No COM
munity can endure which ignores the
Golden Rule, the basic law of social
life-"Each for all, and all for each"
Millions Of people, the world over,
are today seeking to overthrow Ger
man militarism. There are two meth
DDS of securing this result. The first
way to militarize all of the great ma
lions. | am opposed to this plan be-
cause l believe that the dearest lib
critics Of democracy must be sac
rifced in the process.
There is another method of over
coming German militarism-to pro-
mulgate a higher ideal than the ideal
of militarism.
Ideas and ideals are the most pow
erful and permanent things in the
world, as our own history shows. A
century and half ago our ancestors
immortalized themselves by breach
ing the idea of political democracy to
a kingridden world. Since that time,
the idea has encircled the earth.
The only possible way to save the
present-day world from militarism is
to cut to the root of the problem and
establish an industrial democracy,
which, in its turn may prove beacon
light to mankind. If we adopt mill
tarism, we lower ourselves to the
level of German militarism. If we
adopt industrial democracy, we have
an opportunity to raise them to our
new plane of justice and liberty.
| oppose militarism because / be-
lieve that it stands for the brute in
human nature, and that if we adopt it
the democracy is doomed. | hold to
the doctrine-"Peace on earth and
good will among men," because | be-
lieve that only thus can the spirit of
man be emancipated and the human
race be saved. They that take the
sword shall perish with the sword.
1t is only those who are willing to
overcome evil with good that can at
tain to the full promise of manhood.
| revere the government that
represents democracy. | honor the
flag that stands for liberty and
justice. So strong is my feeling
on this point that I resent seeing
the government turned over to an
irresponsible plutOcracy or an ir-
responsible bureaucracy, just as |
resent having the flag, which is the
symbol of our democracy, used to
cloak special privilege and shame
less exploitation.
(The emphasis placed on the above
paragraph is ours.-Ed.)
Militarism is the madness of the
past-dragging US down and destroy
ing US. The spirit of brotherhood
and good will among men is the voice
of the future, calling us to higher
plane of life than humanity has ever
known. To that future l have dedi-
Gated my life, and so I purpose to
continue to the end of the chapter.
SCOTT NEARING.