Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-25
Dr.. TonsiKs Views

like to add q few more COM
ments to the controversy
aroused by the speech he made
recently in Arlington and in
particular to the treatment of
the whole matter by the press.
DR.. Tansill has been reported
by one newspaper as making
extremely derogatory REFER
ences to the Negro as express
sions of his own opinion. He
has denied this. On the basis
Of an academic and personal
knowledge Of the man, ! find
it difficult to credit such a re-
port. The Negro question has
come up in private conversa-
tons with him, as any topic Of
the day would, and his opin-
ions have always been ex-
pressed temporarily and as a
result Of honest conviction.
One might charge that his rea-
soning Is Influenced by a def
mite bias, and that is probably
true: but cannot the same
charge be brought against
everyone In most instances?
Let me state here that I do
not agree with DR.. Tansill on
the matter Of .integration,
which ! believe is inevitable
and even desirable If accomp-
lished over a period Of years.
but / respect his sincerity and
courage in defending his be-
liefs even when they happen
not to be In fashion.
Another newspaper reported
that he was released from
American University after de-
Tending Adolph Hitler in 1887;
your paper noted this and car
ried DR.. TansiIl's denial Of the
story. Here I can say that
DR.. Tapsill has o profound adj
iniration for the German PED
pie 1--WE all now want them as
alliesp. but he has repeatedly
attacked and criticized Hitler
in his classes.
! strongly object to this mat
ter being brought up at all in
relation to the present COM
troversy. 1t seems like trying
to equate pro- itlerisIn with
anti-integrationism or, what is
even more to the point. it i'm
plies that those Americans OPP
posed to Indignation would also
be those most likely to favor
Nazi totalitarianism. This APP
proach. / believe, is unfair and
illogical,
DR.. Tansill, or anyone else,
has the constitutional right to
express his opinions on inte-
grafton or any other matter so
long as he does not incite
others to violation of the laws
Of this Nation. He has not
done this. We are not obliged
to give credence to his views;
we are not obliged even TO
listen; we are obliged to safe
guard his freedom of speech
and to see that innuendoes
are discredited.
In closing / refer to DR.. Tan
sills description of himself as
one of the most distinguished
members of Georgetown Uni
versity's faculty. This is in
deed an understatement. In
national and international re-
1own. In prestige. In the num-
Der and significance Of books
written, and in effectiveness as
q teacher, he towers above all
on that faculty.
Victor G. Bonnet.
II 4 4 4
After debating whether DR..
Charles c. Tansill was serious
upon giving the press his views
concerning indignation and
the powers of the Supreme
Court. ] came to the conclu-
sion that the doctor is pro-
miscuous. However, ] do COM
mend him for his triumph in
proving the fact that there are
still many unknown intellec-
tual ignorances existing in So
ciety. =
It is absurd for one so well
prepared through many years
of education to claim ssuprem-
acy over a neighbor or fellow
man whose rights have been
denied over q period of years,
and in spite of this has sue
ceeded IN equalling and in
many cases outranking those
who oppose him. Such progress
is very hard to accept because
Of the pains and efforts that
have been exerted to hinder
the fight for equal rights.
AS most liberal minded
Americans must have done, I
assured myself that the ideas
expressed by DR.. Tansill are
not shared by intellectuals and
democratic citizens.
M0sawna Nfaknnm