Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-02
BOWIE APPROVES n
PARDON OF DEBS.
Rector, in Commencing Ac-
ton of Harding, Scores i
Harvey. s,iM.
WOULD WEAKEN MORALE
Declares Disarmament Com
ference Has Not Been
Failure: 80 al
WOULD WEAKEN MORALE

president lIardins's pardonIng orS
Eugene V. Debs, Socialist leader. was
commended by Rev. w. RusaelI5 &:
Bowie. ID. D., in his New Years SER
mon last night at st. Paul's E,nIsco.s
pal Church. = q
DR.. Bowie said. In part:
PRESIDENT Harding exhibited tho
oiSEest element In his characteristic, I
instructive wisdom of 4 good heart
when at Christmas time he released
from prison Eugene Debs and other
political offenders. ~
Writer Saw Realities.
Philip Gibbs, who saw tho reali-
tics of war as few other men have
seen them' wrote in the concludIngS
paragraph of his Now 1t Can Re-
Ioid: The new vision leads men on, +
ana IL we can make ono step that
way 1t VIII BIO better than that back.G
ward fall which civilization took
whcn Germany played tho devil and
let us all into the Jungle. The devil
In Germany had to be killed. There;
was no other way. except by helping.I
the Germans to kill 1t, before II mas
tered them. Now let us exercise ourl
own devils and get back to kindnessE
toward all men OF good will. THAT
also Is tho only way to heal thee
heart OF the world and our own stataS
Let us seek the beauty OF life anos
Gou's truth somehow, rememberings
the boys who died too soon, and air.
the falsity and hatred of these past
iiVc years. BY blood and passions
there will be no healing. We have
seen too much blood. We want to
wipe 1t out OF our eyes and souls. Lot
US have peace 6;
Nation Echoes MessaEe.
1T Is because we echo with all our
hearts the message which is writer's
In these words that we are glad OF
the Presidents release OF Eugene
Debs. 1t is true that Debs did ale
that he could to hinder the prosecu.
ton OF the war; It Is true TINT by tho
laws OF tho United States and In tho
terrible cxigencies of tho nations.;
struggle he was Justly condemned and
Justly sentenced: but, oven SO. Debs
has not wrought 80 deep n hurt to-
tho cause for which America fought
as have men like George Harvey ana,
others who have besmirchcd the IDEAL
ism That America carried in her soul.
Debs, by his opposition to tho war,
would have weakened tho morale OF
the nation for the prosecution of the!
war. Others, who have boasted of
their 100 per cent Americanisfn, have
weakened the morale OF the nation
Tor the great, constructive purposes
which ought to have followed tho
wars conclusion: and, to our mind;
his sin Is less than theirs. Ho was an
idealist, and his protest against war
was due to great loyalty to what
he felt to be tho far ends of humans,
Kind. We need today to understand
the value OF all voices that protest.
against the dreadfulness OF war, We
have. as Philip Gibbs well says, .aeens
too much blood. We want to WHO
1t out OF our eyes and souls. Let us
have peace"
Arms Farley Not Failure.
The disarmament conference has
not been failure. Tho nations have
got to get together in some manner.
America has set her feet In the path
leading to brighter days. All nations
must place ideal. the spirit OF Christ,
above strife, thus giving strength
Joy and life to all peoples.
John Mcneil, great Scotch preach
err once was struck by the serene, fun.s
troubled face of woman listening to-
one OF his sermons. Hers was life
free of worry, he thought. Yet in;
curry revealed the fact that she had;
lost husband. children. property, but
her face reflected the presence of God
tho inVincible companionship of tho
unseen Friend
who. for stands taken during the pasty
year may have been misunderstood.i
critized, even ostracizcd, by close
friends. To them would repaat the
psalm, be OF good courage, and ye
shall strengthen your heart, all OF yel
that hope In the Lord"
sST.