Publication date
2/15/19
Volume
40
Number
4
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1919/4/1919-4-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
YOLo 
XL 
PIT1'SBCRGH, 
P 
A., 
FEBRUARY 
15, 
1919 
~o. 
4 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
With 
the 
great 
Peac!' 
Conference 
actually 
in 
progress 
and 
status 
of 
political 
prisoners 
who 
are 
being 
hl'ld 
in 
prisons 
with 
the 
Leaguc 
of 
Nations 
a 
virtual 
reality, 
Bible 
Students 
beyond 
the 
cessation 
of 
hostilitills. 
Kot 
merely 
is 
amnesty 
are 
in 
a 
position 
to 
,see 
morc 
in 
thcsc 
two 
world-events 
than 
bping 
urged 
by 
the 
radical 
press, 
but 
conservative 
papers 
have 
merc 
evolution 
of 
human 
thought 
and 
action. 
They 
are 
but 
taken 
up 
thc 
agitation. 
Indeed 
the 
constitutionality 
of 
the 
the 
,tridps 
(If 
divine 
Providence 
in 
this 
"great 
day 
of 
Jehovah." 
Espionage 
Law, 
under 
which 
the 
political 
prisoners 
in 
this 
Hlilli! 
indeed 
are 
all 
wlro 
cannot 
appreciate 
that 
this 
is 
the 
day 
country 
have 
usually 
been 
incarcerated, 
is 
being 
attacked 
in 
of 
preparation 
for 
Messiili's 
kingdom, 
in 
which 
a 
perfect 
both 
th!' 
Senate 
and 
the 
House 
of 
Representatives; 
and 
there 
Lpagne 
of 
~ations 
will 
exist, 
yea, 
a 
binding 
together 
in 
com· 
is 
dearly 
a 
division 
of 
scntiment 
in 
both 
houscs 
of 
Congress 
mon 
intt'rest 
of 
all 
kindreds 
and 
peoples, 
and 
in 
which 
the 
as 
to 
whether 
that 
law 
should 
not 
be 
immediately 
repealed, 
Goldcn 
Rule 
will 
be 
the 
law 
supreme. 
While 
the 
Lord's 
now 
that 
thc 
war 
is 
over. 
Others 
hold 
that 
unwarranted 
dis­ 
pt'oplt' 
are 
trcmendously 
interested 
in 
the 
outcome 
of 
the 
pres- 
content 
on 
the 
part 
of 
the 
laboring 
classes 
will 
result 
because 
pnt 
Peace 
Congress 
and 
in 
the 
League 
of 
Kations 
which 
may 
of 
the 
prolonged 
imprisonment 
of 
political 
prisoners, 
and 
that 
there 
bt> 
oorn. 
nevertheless 
we 
look 
with 
Eltill 
greater 
longing 
from 
thQ 
standpoint 
of 
expediency 
alone 
immediate 
steps 
to 
the 
time 
foretold 
by 
the 
prophets 
of 
Israel 
when 
the 
kin· 
should 
be 
takcn 
toward 
their 
rclease. 
This 
class 
rcason. 
and 
,lrcds 
of 
earth 
shall 
say 
one 
to 
another: 
"Lct 
us 
go 
up 
to 
the 
we 
think 
their 
reasoning 
sound, 
that 
then' 
are 
already 
sulli­ 
mountain 
of 
the 
Lord. 
to 
the 
honse 
of 
the 
God 
of 
Jacob; 
and 
ciently 
scrious 
problems 
of 
state 
to 
be 
solved 
without 
the 
crea· 
he 
will 
teach 
us 
of 
hi8 
ways, 
and 
we 
will 
walk 
in 
his 
paths," 
tion 
of 
new 
ones. 
at 
which 
time 
"nation 
shall 
not 
lift 
up 
sword 
against 
nation, 
The 
Scriptures 
show 
that 
the 
conflict 
of 
masses 
and 
classes 
neither 
shall 
they 
learn 
war 
any 
more."-Isaiah 
2 
:2-4; 
Mi 
will 
be 
irrepressible, 
and 
that 
every 
possible 
step 
should 
be 
cah 
4: 
1-4. 
taken 
to 
avoid 
the 
further 
widening 
of 
the 
breach. 
The 
pro- 
Wl' 
cannot 
but 
admire 
the 
high 
principles 
embodied 
in 
the 
longed 
imprisonment 
of 
such 
persons 
as 
may 
have 
been 
sen· 
proposed 
L"ague 
of 
Nations, 
formulated 
undoubtedly 
by 
those 
tenced 
for 
wha.t 
in 
peace 
times 
would 
have 
been 
called 
hetero­ 
who 
have 
no 
knowledge 
of 
the 
great 
plan 
of 
God. 
This 
fact 
doxy 
may 
in 
national 
opinion 
tend 
to 
make 
martyrs 
of 
ideal­ 
makes 
all 
the 
more 
wonderful 
the 
ideals 
which 
they 
express. 
ists, 
who 
thereby 
may 
become 
the 
centers 
of 
agitational 
actio 
For 
instance, 
it 
has 
been 
made 
plain 
by 
President 
Wilson 
and 
vities 
such 
as 
would 
interfere 
with 
the 
handling 
of 
after-the­ 
the 
advocates 
of 
his 
ideas 
that 
the 
proposed 
League 
of 
Na- 
war 
probl"ms. 
Moreover, 
many 
of 
these 
political 
prisoncrs 
tions 
is 
more 
than 
mer"ly 
a 
league 
to 
enforce 
peace. 
They 
now 
behind 
prison 
bars 
would 
be 
a 
real 
contribution 
to 
the 
would 
not 
have 
us 
consider 
it 
too 
exclusively 
from 
the 
stand- 
general 
welfare 
if 
released. 
point 
of 
politics 
or 
of 
military 
relations. 
It 
should 
be 
con· 
We 
quote 
from 
the 
magazine, 
The 
Mirror, 
of 
St. 
Louis, 
sidered 
as 
fully 
from 
the 
economic 
and 
social 
points 
of 
view. 
Mo., 
as 
follows: 
The 
President's 
idea 
seems 
to 
be 
that 
the 
League 
of 
Nations 
"The 
world 
cannot 
be 
made 
safe 
for 
deIIJ£lcracy 
so 
long 
which 
he 
propGses 
should 
stand 
for 
world 
service 
rather 
than 
as 
freedom 
of 
speech 
is 
denied 
the 
people. 
No 
man 
can 
be 
mere 
world 
regulation 
in 
the 
military 
sense, 
and 
that 
the 
very 
free 
who 
has 
not 
freedom 
of 
thought; 
and 
freedom 
of 
thought 
Amallest 
of 
nations 
shall 
be 
participants 
in 
its 
every 
arrange· 
is 
impossible 
without 
freedom 
to 
express 
thought. 
Yet 
here 
ment. 
In 
other 
words, 
his 
idea 
undoubtedly 
is 
that 
the 
league 
in 
this 
great 
exemplar 
democracy 
of 
ours 
we 
are 
keeping 
shall 
not 
be 
established 
merely 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
prGmoting 
men 
and 
women 
in 
prison 
for 
exercising 
freedom 
of 
th'ought 
peace 
by 
threat 
or 
coercion; 
but 
that 
its 
purpose. 
when 
put 
and 
expression. 
There 
can 
be 
no 
law 
under 
our 
Comtitution 
into 
operation. 
will 
bc 
to 
mak<' 
of 
all 
nations 
of 
"arth 
one 
denying 
freedom 
of 
speech. 
This 
means 
that 
in 
peace 
freedom 
great 
family, 
working 
tog-eth!'r 
for 
the 
common 
benefit 
in 
a 
11 
of 
speech 
is 
restored 
automatically. 
The 
offense 
of 
the 
peoplc 
the 
avenues 
of 
national 
life. 
Truly 
this 
is 
idealistic, 
and 
ap- 
sentenced 
under 
the 
Espionage 
Act 
under 
special 
conditions 
proximlLtes 
in 
a 
smltlJ 
way 
that 
which 
God 
has 
foretold 
that 
was 
political, 
not 
criminal. 
They 
were 
not 
disloyal. 
They 
he 
will 
bring 
about 
llftcr 
this 
great 
time 
of 
trouble. 
stood 
on 
the 
principle 
of 
freedom 
of 
speech, 
a 
principle 
whIch 
"MEN'S 
HEARTS 
FAILING 
THEM 
FOR 
FEAR" 
every 
American 
endorses. 
The 
right 
is 
held 
to 
be 
a 
sacred 
Bible 
Students 
are 
not 
alone 
in 
their 
realization 
of 
impend- 
one. 
It 
is 
an 
abomination 
that 
they 
should 
be 
penalized 
for 
iug 
events, 
although 
they 
certainly 
have 
a 
clearer 
insight 
into 
exercising 
th~t 
right. 
They 
are 
being 
perse~ute~ 
for 
opinion's 
the 
future 
because 
of 
their 
knowledge 
of 
the 
''more 
sure 
word 
sake. 
That 
IS 
abhorrent 
to 
democracy, 
whIch 
IS 
government 
of 
prophecy," 
which 
is 
as 
"a 
light 
that 
shineth 
in 
a 
dark 
place 
by 
discussion. 
The 
punishment 
abolishes 
discussion. 
It 
dl'­ 
until 
the 
day 
dawn." 
(2 
Peter 
I: 
19) 
~evertheless 
it 
is 
true 
nies 
democracy. 
Tha"t 
cannot 
be 
a 
crime 
which 
is 
in 
llC­ 
that 
"men's 
hearts 
arc 
failing 
them 
for 
fear 
and 
for 
look· 
cord 
with 
the 
fundamental 
principle 
of 
our 
governmcnt. 
ing 
after 
those 
things' 
which 
are 
coming 
on 
the 
earth," 
as 
the 
To 
be 
democratic 
cannot 
be 
treason 
in 
or 
to 
a 
democracy. 
Master 
foretold. 
(Luke 
21:26) 
We 
quote 
the 
words 
of 
a 
Such 
being 
the 
ease, 
punishment 
for 
free 
spee<:h 
is 
pun· 
well·known 
newspaper 
editor, 
Henry 
Watterson, 
as 
published 
ishment 
for 
non-existent 
offense. 
Such 
punishment 
is 
in 
a 
special 
dispatch 
which 
he 
sent 
to 
t1le 
New 
York 
HeraM 
unlawful. 
Therefore 
the 
people 
who 
are 
being 
punished 
there· 
and 
the 
St. 
Louis 
Globe 
Democrat 
under 
date 
of 
January 
18, 
for 
should 
be 
set 
free. 
'file 
President 
shOuld 
issue 
a 
pro- 
1910. 
Under 
the 
caption, 
"Boisheviki 
on 
the 
Way," 
he 
said: 
clamation 
of 
amnesty 
to 
all 
such. 
''This 
is 
a 
world 
of 
sin, 
disease 
and 
death. 
Permanently 
"We 
are 
not 
going 
to 
wreak 
vengeance 
upon 
the 
foe 
WI' 
nothing 
can 
change 
or 
correct 
it. 
Twice 
it 
has 
gone 
to 
the 
have 
defeated. 
Why 
should 
we 
wish 
to 
wreak 
vengeance 
to· 
dogs. 
May 
it 
not 
be 
a 
third 
time 
on 
the 
way? 
Assuming 
that 
ward 
those 
of 
our 
own 
household 
who 
did 
no 
more 
than 
exer­ 
the 
life 
of 
nations 
is 
mortal, 
even 
as 
thc 
life 
of 
man, 
has 
not 
cise 
their 
freedom 
of 
speech? 
There 
is 
nothing 
Buch 
persons 
our 
world 
reached 
the 
top 
of 
the 
acclivity; 
and, 
pausing 
for 
can 
do 
now 
to 
obstruct 
the 
go-vernment, 
if 
they 
should 
be 
ab- 
a 
moment, 
may 
it 
not 
be 
about 
to 
take 
the 
downward 
course 
solved 
of 
their 
~pecial 
wartime 
offenses. 
There 
would 
be 
into 
another 
abyss 
of 
collapse 
and 
oblivion? 
something 
fitting, 
something 
in 
felicitous 
conformity 
with 
the 
"Society 
and 
politics 
are 
jointly 
and 
equally 
at 
fault. 
Un· 
ideals 
for 
which 
we 
entered 
war. 
in 
givinll: 
liberty 
to 
individ- 
der 
the 
pretense 
of 
'liberalizing' 
the 
Government, 
its 
organic 
uals 
who 
held 
out 
for 
individual 
self·determination 
of 
their 
matter 
is 
being 
sacrificed 
to 
Whimsical 
e~perimentation. 
The 
principles. 
A 
general 
amnesty 
fGr 
such 
would 
comport 
well 
folly 
of 
the 
man 
is 
recruited 
by 
the 
folly 
of 
the 
woman. 
Lead- 
with 
the 
armistice 
and 
with 
the 
peace 
to 
which 
that 
armisticp 
ers 
of 
femininisrn 
would 
abolish 
sex. 
To 
what 
end 
?.......civil 
is 
but 
the 
preface." 
war 
in 
Ameriea-universal 
hara-kiri; 
the 
dry 
rot 
of 
wealth 
A 
SINGULAR 
PROOEEDING 
wasting 
.itself 
in 
self-indulgence. 
Then 
a 
thousand 
years 
of 
Notable 
among 
the 
thousand 
or 
more 
political 
prisoners 
now 
total 
eclJpse. 
. 
being 
heid 
in 
confinement 
in 
thi~ 
country 
are 
officers 
and 
"But 
the 
WhIrl 
goes 
on; 
the 
yachts 
sweep 
out 
proudly 
to 
members 
of 
our 
own 
Society. 
During 
the 
trial 
of 
Brother 
sea; 
the 
auto 
cars 
dash 
madly 
through 
the 
streets; 
more 
and 
J. 
F. 
Rutherford 
and 
the 
seven 
brethren 
indicted 
with 
him, 
darker 
and 
deeper 
do 
the 
contrasts 
of 
life 
show 
themselves. 
the 
Government's 
counscl 
admitted 
that 
he 
could 
point 
to 
How 
long 
shall 
it 
be 
when 
the 
muusill 
millions 
take 
the 
upper 
"no 
vindictive 
spirit" 
agaiJUlt 
the 
Government 
in 
the 
minds 
ten 
thouslI.nd 
by 
the 
throat 
and 
rend 
them 
as 
the 
fudosos 
of 
of 
any 
of 
these 
defendants. 
It 
is 
therefore 
indeed 
Ilingular 
the 
terror 
in 
France 
did 
the 
aristocrats 
of 
the 
regime 
ancient 
T 
that 
these 
members 
of 
the 
INTERNATIONAL 
BmLE 
S'I'UDENTS 
As 
the 
Bolsheviki 
are 
overrunning 
Russia 
and, 
presently, 
all 
AsSOCIATION 
have 
been 
denied 
bail 
pending 
the 
appeal 
of 
tneh 
Europe, 
the 
issue 
between 
ca,pital 
and 
labor 
is 
full 
of 
generat- 
ease, 
notwithstanding 
the 
fact 
that 
others 
more 
seriously 
in· 
ing 
heat 
and 
hate. 
It 
is, 
in 
trut~, 
an 
irrepressible 
conflict. 
volved, 
seemingly, 
in 
violation 
of 
the 
Espionage 
Act, 
leaders 
Who 
shall 
say 
that, 
broken 
loose 
III 
the 
('rowded 
centers 
or 
of 
movements 
of 
the 
most 
radical 
order, 
secured 
bail 
with 
population, 
it 
may 
not 
any 
day 
engulf 
us 
all 
1" 
ease. 
Being 
consecrated 
children 
of 
the 
Lord, 
thev 
can 
reo 
A 
POSSIBLE 
POLITIOAL 
STORM 
OEN'l'ER 
JOIce 
in 
tribulation 
and 
can 
rest 
in 
the 
confident 
and 
blessed 
One 
of 
the 
leading 
subjects 
now 
being 
discussed 
in 
the 
new~- 
assurance 
that 
all 
things 
shall 
work 
together 
for 
their 
good 
1)\'­ 
papers 
and 
magazines 
of 
Europe 
and 
America 
is 
th3t 
of 
the 
eause 
they 
love 
the 
Lord. 
But 
even 
St. 
Paul, 
when 
imprisoned. 
[6389] 
(51-52) 
Vou. XL PITTSBURGH, PA., FEBRUARY 15, 1919 No. 4 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER With the great Peace Conference actually in progress and with the League of Nations a virtual reality, Bible Students are in a position to see more in these two world-events than mere evolution of human thought and action. They are but the strides of divine Providence in this “great day of Jehovah.” Blind indeed are all wko cannot appreciate that this is the day of preparation for Messiah’s kingdom, in which a perfect Teague of Nations will exist, yea, a binding together in common interest of al] kindreds and peoples, and in which the Golden Rule will be the Jaw supreme. While the Lord’s people are tremendously interested in the outcome of the present Peace Congress and in the League of Nations which may there be born, nevertheless we look with still greater longing to the time foretold by the prophets of Israel when the kindreds of earth shall say one to another: “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths,” at which time “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”—Isaiah 2:2-4; Mi cah 4:1-4, We cannot but admire the high principles embodied in the proposed League of Nations, formulated undoubtedly by those who have no knowledge of the great plan of God. This fact makes all the more wonderful the ideals which they express. For instance, it has been made plain by President Wilson and the advocates of his ideas that the proposed League of Nations is more than merely a league to enforce peace. They would not have us consider it too exclusively from the standpoint of politics or of military relations. It should be considered as fully from the economic and socia] points of view. The President’s idea seems to be that the League of Nations which he Broposes should stand for world service rather than mere world regulation in the military sense, and that the very smallest of nations shall be participants in its every arrangement, Yn other words, his idea undoubtedly is that the league shall not be established merely for the purpose of promoting peace by threat or coercion; but that its purpose. when put into operation, will be to make of all nations of earth one great family, working together for the common benefit in all the avenues of national life. Truly this is idealistic, and approximates in a small way that which God has foretold that he will bring about after this great time of trouble. ‘‘MEN’S HEARTS PAILING THEM FOR FEAR’’ Bible Students are not alone in their realization of impending events, although they certainly have a clearer insight into the future because of their knowledge of the “more sure word of prophecy,” which is as “a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn.” (2 Peter 1:19) Nevertheless it is true that “men’s hearts are failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth,” as the Master foretold. (Luke 21:26) We quote the words of a well-known newspaper editor, Henry Watterson, as published in a special dispatch which he sent to the New York Herald and the St. Louis Globe Democrat under date of January 18, 1919. Under the caption, ‘“Bolsheviki on the Way,” he said: “This is a world of sin, disease and death. Permanently nothing can change or correct it. Twice it has gone to the dogs. May it not be a third time on the way? Assuming that the life of nations is mortal, even as the life of man, has not our world reached the top of the acclivity; and, pausing for a moment, may it not be about to take the downward course into another abyss of collapse and oblivion? “Society and politics are jointly and equally at fault. Under the pretense of ‘liberalizing' the Government, its organic matter is being sacrificed to whimsical experimentation. The folly of the man is recruited by the folly of the woman. Leaders of femininism would abolish sex. To what end?—Civil war in America—universal hara-kiri; the dry rot of wealth wasting itself in self-indulgence. Then a thousand years of total eclipse. “But the whirl goes on; the yachts sweep out proudly to sea; the auto cars dash madly through the streets; more and darker and deeper do the contrasts of life show themselves. How long shall it be when the mudsill millions take the upper ten thousand by the throat and rend them as the furiosos of the terror in France did the aristocrats of the regime ancient? As the Bolsheviki are overrunning Russia and, presently, all Europe, the issue between capital and labor is full of generating heat and hate. It is, in truth, an irrepressible conflict. Who shall say that, broken loose in the crowded centers of population, it may not any day engulf us all?” A POSSIBLE POLITICAL STORM CENTER One of the leading subjects now being discussed in the news papers and magazines of Europe and America is that of the £6389] status of political prisoners who are being held in prisons beyond the cessation of hostilities, Not merely is amnesty being urged by the radical press, but conservative papers have taken up the agitation. Indeed the constitutionality of the Espionage Law, under which the political prisoners in this country have usually been incarcerated, is being attacked in both the Senate and the House of Representatives; and there is clearly a division of sentiment in beth houses of Congress as to whether that law should not be immediately repealed, now that the war is over. Others hold that unwarranted discontent on the part of the laboring classes will result because of the prolonged imprisonment of political prisoners, and that from the standpoint of expediency alone immediate steps should be taken toward their release. This class reason. and we think their reasoning sound, that there are already sufficiently serious problems of state to be solved without the creation of new ones. The Scriptures show that the conflict of masses and classes will be irrepressible, and that every possible step should be taken to avoid the further widening of the breach. The prolonged imprisonment of such persons as may have been sentenced for what in peace times would have been called heterodoxy may in national opinion tend to make martyrs of idealists, who thereby may become the centers of agitational activities such as would interfere with the handling of after-thewar problems. Moreover, many of these political prisoners now behind prison bars would be a real contribution to the general welfare if released. We quote from the magazine, The Mirror, of St. Louis, Mo., as follows: “The world cannot be made safe for democracy so long as freedom of speech is denied the people. No man can be free who has not freedom of thought: and freedom of thought is impossible without freedom to express thought. Yet here in this great exemplar democracy of ours we are keeping men and women in prison for exercising freedom of thought and expression. There can be no law under our Cozstitution denying freedom of speech. This means that in peace freedom of speech is restored automatically. The offense of the people sentenced under the Espionage Act under special conditions was political, not criminal, They were not disloyal. They stood on the principle of freedom of speech, a principle which every American endorses. The right is held to be a sacred one. It is an abomination that they should be penalized for exercising that right. They are being persecuted for opinion’s sake. That is abhorrent to democracy, which is government by diseussion. The punishment abolishea discussion. It denjes democracy. That cannot be a crime which is in accord with the fundamental principle of our government. To be democratic cannot be treason in or to a democracy. Such being the case, punishment for free speech is punishment for non-existent offense. Such punishment is unlawful. Therefore the people who are being punished there for should be set free. The President shoul clamation of amnesty to all such. “We are not going to wreak vengeance upon the foe we have defeated. Why should we wish to wreak vengeance toward those of our own household who did no more than exercise their freedom of speech? There is nothing such persons can do now to obstruct the government, if they should be absolved of their special wartime offenses. There would be something fitting, something in felicitous conformity with the ideals for which we entered war, in giving liberty to individuals who held out for individual self-determination of their principles. A general amnesty for such would comport well with the armistice and with the peace to which that armistice is but the preface.” A SINGULAR PROCEEDING Notable among the thousand or more political prisoners now being held in confinement in this country are officers and members of our own Society. During the trial of Brother J. F. Rutherford and the seven brethren indicted with him, the Government’s counsel admitted that he could point to ‘no vindictive spirit” against the Government in the minds of any of these defendants. It is therefore indeed singular that these members of the INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION have been denied bail pending the appeal of their case, notwithstanding the fact that others more seriously involved, seemingly, in violation of the Espionage Act, leaders of movements of the most radical order, secured bail with ease. Being consecrated children of the Lord, they can rejoice in tribulation and can rest in the confident and blessed assurance that al] things shall work together for their good because they love the Lord. But even St. Paul, when imprisoned. ($1- 52) issue a pro

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