New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-10
An Anarchists View
Men Should Live for Freedom Now.
Not Die for Democracy
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

! To the Editor Of The Tribune.
! Sir: You did me the honor Of printing part
of a speech Of mine delivered before the Con-
scicntious Directors League few weeks ago
| in your issue OF September ]. Inc part
printed was substantially accurate, but some OF
Tic context was omitted, my name misspciied
and the report given in such manner MS 10
convey wrong impression OF my views on
! the war and the subject OF conscientious oo-
! lection.
am neither actively nor passively pro-
German. The danger OF German militarism
! to the cause Of progress and human freedom
! il as clear to me as il can be to you or any
one fighting it. My views on this subject
have been expressed in scores OF lectures, dls-
cussions and speeches delivered during the
last three years, and in a number OF articles
in the "Modern School" magazine. Ihese
opinions have been expressed so often and
with such vigor that have been denounced by
not few Of my former friends and comrades
rs being false to the principles OF interna-
tionalism, no longer an anarchist and pa
triot
cheerfuliy admit that the imperial Ger
man government did in effect declare war on
the government of the United States when II
sank American ships and killed American citi-
zens, and | should have been glad II the
latter had retaliated two and half years ago.
This personal view, however, does not bind
me to the fact that the voters Of the United
States, to say nothing Of the people, gave no
mandate to President Wilson or Congress to
take such action.
President Wilson has tried and is still try
ing to make this "morsl war" when it is
nothing of the sort. The United States gov
eminent was literally kicked into it, and it IL
absurd or worse to pretend otherwise Is IT
honest, is it yloral, to force men into it who
do not believe in this or any other war? Let
me emphasize clearly and distinctly that am
not now speaking of the man who is hypo-
critically trying to shield himself behind the
plea of conscientious objector simply to save
his skin. | have no more sympathy for him
than you have, and stated this view plainly
to the Conscientious Directors League when
/ addressed them. ! am, however, concerned
with the humanitarian who is opposed to all
wars, offensive, defensive or class war, even
though | am not Of his number. / am not
willing to sacrifice him even to make the
world safe for democracy want the world
free, even if I don't care about democracy,
and the best way to achieve that end is by
urging men to live that freedom now, instead
of waiting until the German Empire is
crushed The whole world stands appalled, at
the stupid, blind and submissive German peo
pie who support every strocity committed in
their name, and yet we are driving straight
for that end when we attempt to crush every
spark of individual will in the names Of lib
erty and democracy. l am not in the least
concerned with the governments treatment of
the Vierecks and Weissmans, for it is a fight
between two sets of governmentalists. | am
not even concerned with what it does to its
Bergers, Hillquts and Lees, who believe in
war as thoroughly rs other majority rulers"
and governmentalsts, and who, after de-
nouncing the advocates Of personal liberty
for years, suddenly discover that there is
such thing as conscience, and are using that
as an argument against this war. If we have
machinery to take care of the real bona
fde, honest, conscientious director we should
create it, and until we do shall continue to
defend him. HENRY KELLY.
Stelton, NJ j., Sept 7, 1917.