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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repealed,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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