Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-02-19
SLOGAN
IS REPUD|ATED BY
SOCIALIST PARTY

Albany, N. Y, Feb. 19.-Socialists
repudiate the sentiment my country
right or wrong" and refuse to accept
the slogan proclaimed during the war
of stand behind the president" Nor
ris Hillquit, socialist leader, testified
today under ross-examtnation at the
trial of five socialist assemblymen
charged with disoyalty.
'My country right or wrong" is a
false doctrine of national patriotism, "
declared the witness. The true" doc
trine he said. ''is the ideal of interna-
tional working class solidarity
True" patriotism, he explained in
connection with the antiwar program
adopted by the party just after Amer
lea entered the war, consists Sin MAX
ing our country right at all times"
True" patriotism, he added, con-
sists lin constant service to the peo-
pie Of the country and constant en-
deavors to improve their condition.
The war. socialists held, would not
serve this end according to the wit
ness.
War "Not Defensive"
The war was not defensive one as
far as the United States was concern
ed, continued the witness, adding that
if it had been the party would not
have adopted at the st. Louis conven-
ton in 1917 the war program he had
aided in framing.
While recognizing the legality or
Americas declaration of war and con-
forming to war time laws, the social
lists did not consider it their duty to
accept the declaration as right or hu-
name. according to Mr.. Hillquit. While
not condoning German submarine war
fare, Mr.. Hillquit said socialists dld
not consider it an invasion, actual or
threatened, or that the arrangement
on American mercantile rights was
sufficient to justify the sacrifice OF
lives that entry into the war would
entail.
Mr. Hillquit said socialists recog-
nized the presidents constitutional
right as commander in chief of the
army and navy and socialists in serv-
ice would obey any order he issued as
such. However, he said, they did not
consider it their duty to accept hrs
judgment in all things.
Party Opposed War. :.
The attempt by Germany to inc.te
trouble between Mexico and the Uni
ted States was called by Mr.. Hillquit
a ridiculous incident-the act of some
insane or foolish persons.
sI never denied the fact that the
socialist party is an anti-war party
and was not in favor of this war even
after it was declared" asserted Mr.
Hillquit.
"It recognized its duty to the United
States as a socialist party. In otner
words it recognized its duties primar-
ilv to the people of the United States
and in the first instance to the work
ing poplation of the United States.
eve condemn what we call false pa
triotism-a number of Jingle phrases
created and put into circulation very
often by persons who have sinister
ends to subserYe. and very often re-
heated by the thoughtless until they
have lost their sense"
eve took the declaration OF our
president that we are not making war
on the German people perhaps a little
too seriously from the administrative
point of view but as far as we social
lists are concerned we never considered
II party Of the duty of the American
people to make war on the German
people or the people of any country
or exterminate any people or any ma
ton or throw any people or any ma
ton into misery"