The Robesonian., 1917-12-10
WHAT PROF. WILLIAMS SAID
Remarks Of a University Profes-
sor That is Neither His Sense
Nor His Patriotism Credit.
Statesville Landmark.

Nor HIS Fatr1OtlSm Credit.
Statesville Landmark.
Complying with the request of The
Landmark that he turn to the Observ-
er of May 7th, last, read the quoted
remarks of Prof. Williams of the
State university with reference to
Americas entering the war with Ger
many, and say whether the Williams
utterances are proper subject Of
criticism, Editor Harris submits the
following:
! "Prof. Williams prefaced the ad
dress, over which there has been a
controversy, with the statement that
he did not want to talk about the
war; because he didn't understand it..
He then proceeded to prove the truth
of his claim. There was nothing de-
cidedly of the pacifist in his talk. It
was rather ultra pessimistic He sup
posed that we had a duty to 90 into
this war, but he could not keep his
mind from the people. It was far re-
moved from a patriotic address. But
the address itself is of record. It has
aroused criticism. il many quarters
and the apparent inc .fferenc7 Of the
trustees 20 tn S rit.c4sn and the fact
that Prot. Willia-rs has not seen prop
e" 20 explain c1 defend, h s only serv-
ed to add to public irritation. If there
is nothing wrong in Prof Williams
views as then expressed it would
seem that it is the duty of the trus-
tees to so state and put the matter
at rest. 1t is the board of trustees,
itself, and not Prof. Williams, that is
| now under criticism"
So far so good. The utterances
complained of we're not made in
public address, but in a talk with
some young men of Prof. Williams
observation-disclosures pupils as we
understood the report in the Observer.
This simply to keep the record
straight. It makes no difference
whether Prof. Williams statements
were made in public or private, seeing
that they were published.
The main point of criticism that
The Landmark found in the remarks,
however, was not "pacifism" at all.
1t was this:
Germany happens to be all in the
wrong at this time because she hap
pens to be Teutonic. To the American,
he said, it was all right for England
t to stop American ships from going
to Germany; but when Germany tries
I to stop American ships from going
a HE could see no principle in
d volved on the part of either side. He
only saw the clash between England
S and Germany for commercial suprem-
r acy. The desire on the part of Ger
many to expand, he pointed out, was
q the same desire that actuated Eng.
: land when she took Canada away
n from France, and later won India
l. from the same nation; but when Ger
+ many takes Belgium there is a mighty
IS howl. 49,
IS "In the entrance of the United State:
IS into the war, Prof. Williams saw bu
N that same principle which actuate,
IS one boy to strike another, when on
at has stepped upon the others toe
4 Germany has stepped upon the to-
> OF the United States and must figh
= for it. When asked if England ha
al not also trod pretty heavily upon tn
Il toe OF this country, he replied tha
" tlmated that England is Anglo -Saxor
~ ~ the United States is Anglo-Saxon. bu
ob ob Germany is Teutonic' -
h. The above was copied in The Lane
D ~, mark of May from the Observe
sn sa of May z. Many people made r.
re re marks like that before America e1
60 tered the war without criticism, ar
no' ro properly. But month after Amer
az ca had declared war to make the wor
a;n safe for democracy, a professor in Il
q e1n university of North Carolina said
~ a published statement that sshe cou
. see no principle involved on eth
- side: He only saw the clash betwe,
England and Germany for CONNIE
cial supremacy" In Germany's owe
running Of Belgium he saw onlv a d
sire to expand, such desire as h;
caused England to take Canada a,
India. In entering the war the Uni
ed States, as Prof Williams saw
was actuated by the "same princin
which actuates one boy to strike a
other when one has stepped on Il
others toe. Germany has stepned ,
the toe of the United States and mi,
ugtt fer L." E. glc I'd re proi. IS
we 1t IN, ,ep' ed On CTR toe wish cor,
fcr2e, but iher En,rlal- is loss
o1, lie Uri ed Sts es is 4 fg. 9-Saxr
Whl-e Germ an. is Ic, ,onic
A month after war was declared
Germany, when appeals were bel
made for volunteers, draft law v
being passed and every effort made
- help England and France ston /