The Washington herald., 1922-02-25
On Muzzey's History.
To the Editor. The Washington Herald

To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
Muzzey's History is great i'm
provement over the old texts that
furnished the mental pabulum for
the members of the Piney Branch
Citizens Association and the worthy
chairman of their school commit
tee. Their attitude toward Muzzey
is the strongest possible proof of
the narrowing influence of the old
texts. The books they studied de-
voted many pages to descriptions
OF battles. plans of campaigns. mill
tary strategy, etc. They were espe-
cially long on tales of daring which
thrill the susceptible minds of the
young and fill them with the de-
sire to kill. And they call that pa
triotism! Now our worthy neigh
bors want our children to study
texts ''flled with hero tales calcu-
lated to inspire patriotism" Hero
tales to inspire patriotism! APP
parently IL has never occurred to
them that patriotism is possible in
times of peace. The feeling is COM
mon that a man can show his pa
triotism only by marching forth to
kill a patriot of some other nation.
This impression is SO strong that
only a slight wave of war propa-
ganda Is necessary to cause our
superpatriots to join in the hue and
cry for the shedding of blood. The
man who opposes the plunging Of
his country into war Is denounced
as unpatriotic. IL not trea asonable.
Even while yet a minority. those
who howl for war make So much
noise they drown out all Opposi-
tion. 1t is easy to see how the
war party is aided by this narrow.
pernicious, false idea of patriotism.
And this glorification OF war. this
false idea of patriotism will have
to be eradicated by teaching chill
dren the truth about killing human
beings before enduring peace is
even remote possibility.
When you see a man with tight
ly buttoned lips. don't think he is
trying to keep from laughing; he
is probably getting ready to say
"Bolsho vism'' to the first man who
suggests that our politicians and
mtllionaires are not demi- gods. The
gentleman's denial of DR.. Muzzey's
statements does not alter the facts,
and the cry of "BoIshevism" is fu-
tile. Americans have seen these
InInES DelOTc lHtlT OwIl
eyes. and 1t will be hard to con-
vince them that they have been
dreaming.
Is it possible that the gentleman
knows as little about Socialism as
he does about Grants adDIinistra-
ton. have never been Social
list. but for the past twenty years
] have tried to keep informed con-
cerning the movement. Let us keep
the record straight even when we
talk to our opponents. Socialism
does not mean violence, nor the dis
tribution of wealth among the poor.
1t means that workers shall not be
exploited by parasites.
1t is a dangerous doctrine to re-
mind history students that when
they are of voting age they will
find ready at hand a weapon with
which they can quietly and peace
ably put the politician out Of bust
hess. Very dangerous for the poll
tic'an: he might have to work.
DR., Muzzey's Indictment of the
press would have to be raised L.
the nth power to do the subject
justice. The best newspaper ia
Wa shingtor put the whole thing
into a nutshell a few months age.
See The Herald's editorial on Prop
aganda.% F.. C. HELM.
Mount Rainier, Nd.