Now–editorial Notes

Thomas G. Masaryk, President of the Republic of Czechoslovakia, whose eighty-fourth birthday anniversary is celebrated today, is one of the world’s outstanding champions of liberty and democracy. He is also one of the rare personalities who have retained their greatness after the World War.

Masaryk’s life-story is like a fairy tale. From the humblest beginnings he rose to the highest eminence by the sheer force of his intellect, by his passion for righteousness, by his sincerity and his profound sympathy for the cause of his people who yearned to be free and independent as of yore. For many years he worked indefatigably as scholar, teacher and leader. He was the conscience of his oppressed people. He was never afraid to stand alone, to espouse a cause that was unpopular, if he but knew that it was right, to defend the weak and the wronged even though he thereby made enemies for himself among his friends.

A great Czech patriot, he was not afraid to question the authenticity of a historic national Czech document, and after painstaking investigation, he came out with an expose proving that the document held sacred by the Czech nation was a forgery. Masaryk was attacked as a traitor to his country. He was branded as a “frivolous, cynical literary bandit and criminal” by chauvinistic historians. Yet he went on with his work, undisturbed by the vituperative attacks on him. He knew he was right and that gave him strength and courage to continue his work. He believed there was no place in the history of his beloved people for forged documents, however painful the expose might be to his people for a time.

Meanwhile his fame as a scholar and philosopher kept growing, as he produced one important work after another.

His integrity, his fearlessness and his passion for justice led him to take up another unpopular cause in 1899. A Jew named Hilsner was charged with the murder of a Christian girl in a forest near Polna, for “ritual purposes.” Hilsner was convicted, and the ritual murder legend was rapidly spread among the masses. When Masaryk was asked for his opinion of the case as an expert, he undertook a thorough study, and arrived at the conclusion that a grave wrong had been committed. He became convinced that Hilsner was innocent, and he started a campaign for his liberation. He did this not so much for the sake of saving the innocent man, as for the purpose of saving his people from the terrible superstition which was spreading among them. He was again attacked, even by his own students who created violent disturbances during his Lectures. Afterward the people realized that Masaryk was right, and that his action had been prompted by the noblest of motives. He risked his popularity in order to serve truth and justice and to save his own people from the canker of superstition which was undermining their moral foundations.

Masaryk, the idealist, has at all times been also a realist in statesmanship.

Discussing the lessons of the World War, President Masaryk said to me during one of my visits with him:

“It was such a terrible object to all nations that they would be stupid to embark upon another war. Tolstoy said that the majority of the people are stupid. I would say, the sensible people are in the minority. That is less offensive. But the sensible people must work for peace. The sensible people must work for peace. The Sensible people must take an active, energetic part in preparing for durable peace. They must be promoters of common sense, not merely pacifists idly watching what is going on about them.”

With regard to Germany, President Masaryk said:

“When peace offers commenced and the question of an armistice was under discussion, I expressed to President. Woodrow Wilson my conviction that it would be wise for the Allies to enter Berlin before concluding peace with Germany. By ending the war in that way no more human lives would have been sacrificed than have been sacrificed after the peace. I admitted to the President that the war was strategically won, but knowing Prussia, I was afraid that the masses of the German people would not believe in this strategic defeat of Germany and Austria. I reminded the President that when he sent his friend, Colonel Edward M. House, to Europe for the purpose of discussing with the Allied army chiefs the problems of peace, he referred to a durable and not momentary peace. I also reminded him of his own statement in which he insisted on the destruction of militaristic Prussia, and pointed out to him that this could be achieved only if Marshal Foch were to lead the Allied armies across the Rhine.

“I am still of the opinion, especially after the experiences with the peace, that my standpoint was correct.”

President Masaryk clearly foresaw the consequences of an undefeated Prussian militarism which has given birth to Hitlerism.

It is reported that for the first time the larger cities with a predominating German population in Czechoslovakia have organized special celebrations today in honor of President Masaryk. This is further indication of how Masaryk has succeeded in conciliating the various minorities constituting the population of Czechoslovakia under a true democracy. The genius of President Masaryk and his pupil and disciple, Dr. Eduard Benes, one of the foremost constructive statesmen in the world today, has been demonstrated in the liability and progress of Czechoslovakia.

All liberty-loving people. Jews and Gentiles alike, rejoice on the occasion of Massaryk’s birthday celebration and wish him many more years of inspiring, courageous work for democracy and peace.