El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-15
BRADLEY IS
FOR THE WAR
Congregational Minister
Says, However, That He's
Against Mud Singing.

Il am for the war. I am for back
ing M Pershing and the army and
navy" but 4 deplore the tendency in
The United States today to prosecute.
censor and sling mud at all those
whose opinions on war policy and
peace terms differ from those held by
The majority"
in statement read before the First
Congregational church Sunday. Re-
Dwight J. Bradley, its pastor. made
these remarks. His statement was
made in response TO questions asked
him as TO his opinion on an address
or his father. Rev. Dan T. Bradley. at
columbus, O.. Oct -. in which the
elder Key. LIZ Bradley is reported TO
have criticized president Wilson and
his war policies The statement of the
younger Rev Bradley follows.
FavOrs Free Speech
In view Of the questions which
with regard 10 my fathers speech IN
Columbus, o.. before the national
council OF Congregational churches
there in session, 7 am taking this op-
portunlty 70 state my position upon
the general proposition which he de-
Clared- I do not think, however. that
IL is necessary or germane to the sub
lect 10 express my opinion as to the
particular points which he raised No
one who heard me speak can doubt as
TO my stand on the war I am for the
war-I am for backing up Pershing
and the army and navy
Il believe with Or. Johnson that
every man has a right 10 utter what
he thinks IS truth, and every other
man has a right 10 knock him down
for it.
Lenders Were DissenterS.
But aside from the matter Of
rights. believe that IL is bad policy
and bad Christianity 20 knock man
down Tor expressing an opinion Of
truth that differs from yours
Especially so. since practically every
great dissenrer from the public Opin-
ion OF his day has later on been proved
10 be right Socrates. Jesus, Paul.
Copernicus, Calico. Newton. COlum-
bus. Hus. Luther. the Pilgrim fathers. +
The leaders Of the American revolu- I
tiOn-aI dissenters, most of them /
either assassinated or banished. are
all proved 10 have been right With I
this in mind, ] deplore the tendency I
in the United States today TO perse-
cute. censor and sling mud at all |
those whose opinions upon war policy I
and peace terms differ from those /
held by the majorit--- There is a wave I
Of Intolerance passing over the cOun- ]
Try which is far beneath the dignity 4
of a nation with the traditions Of I
high mindedness which America pos
sesses.
No Time Now for Peace.
with regard to peace terms. / ]
heartily accede TO the proposition 1
that the present juncture does not
seem a good one for inaugurating /
peace negotiations with Germany L /
believe. in the words OF Mr. BalfOur, Z
that Germany must be fought until 4
she is either pOwerless or free" But I
7 believe that II is unwise from every
standpoint 10 stifle the discussion Of
peace in this country. A good and (
lasting peace depends upon the in
f-IliGent discussion Of its terms by I
the american people. Moreover. there ]
are in Kermany right now two forces /
struggling for mastery-the au-
tocracv and the socialist democracy.
We should do all we can 10 encourage
the German socialists But their
Greatest enemy is the lingo press
stuff Of the allied countries This
threatening literature telling Of the
vengeance 10 be eIacted from a beat
ia Germany and showing the extent
10 which liberal opinion among the
.-liies has been curbed, is fed TO the
German people in order TO frightel
hem into fighting TO the last ditch
For the reasons above cited, If for no
ether, I think that the freedom to eX-
press opinions about peace should De
given back 10 the public and that the