Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-06
Judgment of Nation Divided
On Schwimmer Case Decision

Denial Of citizenship to Rosika
Schwimmer by decision Of the United
States Supreme Court, with three
justices dissenting, raises again the
question Of the status of the profess
sional pacifist. Supporters Of the ma
jority opinion emphasize the point that
an alien seeking citizenship is not de-
handing a right but seeking o priv
ilege, and that nationalism requires
q willingness to indorse the principle
Of taking up arms In the national de-
tense. Those who accept the minority
opinion Of Justice Holmes, concurred
in by Justices Brandeis and Sanford,
insist that tolerance and the American
principle Of free thought and speech
are endangered by the majority attitude.
I'VE take young men and send them
to war without asking their leave. We
send men to prison who refuse. That
is on the principle of national self
preservation says the Milwaukee
Journal, with the query, "If we re-
quire this Of young men born citizens,
can we welcome to citizenship any one
whose influence would be in favor of their
refuSing?" The Savannah News OBJ
serves as to Mrs. Schwinmer: "She
would not without effort permit q per-
son to take from her her personal be-
longings. Why should she not be In
favor of fighting for her country, when
country means the protection of the life
and liberties of its people? The most
prominent thing about pacifists is their
inconsistency"
X X
Those who would accept citizenship
with reservations should be barred"
declares the Indianapolis Star, while
the ST. Louis Globe Democrat calls the
decision sound and just and thorough
ly American" and the Syracuse Herald
contends that this principles Of sound
and loyal citizenship apply to all alike"
The New York Evening Post COM
mentS: LAS the majority points out.
Nine. Schwimmer Is asking not a nat
ural right but a privilege. She pre-
sumes to impose q condition upon her
acceptance Of the privilege that she
asks-the privilege to disregard the
Nations first law, that Of national self
preservation"
Every true American" in the opinion
Of the Long Beach Press Telegram,
"cherishes sincere hope for peace,
but It is coupled with a willingness to
defend the Union against all foes.
That this is better brand of pacifism
than that which Is militant for In
grating of alien theories on the body
polite of the republic Is safe con-
clusion, in which all good citizens will
join" The Texarkana Gazette offers
the further conclusion that there are
enough conscientious directors already
holding American citizenship without
formally bestowing citizenship on aliens
who are avowedly opposed to taking
up arms In defense of the Nation,
should occasion arise"
Similar views are held by the Savan-
nah Press, Fort Wayne News-Sentinel
and Columbus Evening Dispatch and
numerous others. The Charleston Daily
Mail feels that the Nation has no place
and small use, If any, for the citizen
who Is willing to enjoy all the benefits
of the country without, when the Ma
ton is in peril, serving 1t to the best of
his ability IN such ways as he can"
The Lansing State Journal argues that
ito have admitted Nine. Schwimmer to
after she had declared, as
she has declared, of record, that she
cosmic consciousness of belonging to
the human race, would have been to
absolve practically every citizen Of al
legtance to the Government"
y X X
In the dissenting opinion of Justice |
Holmes Is plea for free thought and !
the statement: IT would suggest that |
the Guakers have done their share to |
citizens agree with the applicants be-
liefs and that had not supposed
hitherto that We regretted our inability