The New York Evening Post yesterday devoted its ###ding editorial to the issues involved in the address delivered by Dr. Hans Luther, German ambassador to the United States, at Columbia University Tuesday night.
The editorial questions the sincerity of Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, president of the University, in claiming freedom of speech to be one of his political creeds. Entitled “Dr. Luther and Dr. Butler—Pardon Their Embarrassment”, The Post cites among other things the dismissal from the University staff of Donald Henderson, crusading instructor of economics; Professor James McKeon Cattell, Professor Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana and Charles A. Beard, historian, as instances of Dr. Butler’s illiberality. Another point made in the editorial is to the effect that Dr. Luther, hitherto a staunch defender of the Republic, is made a mouthpiece for a nation whose political platform he has for years opposed.
“The Evening Post does not blame Dr. Butler for Dr. Luther’s appearance at Columbia. Like Dr. Butler, this newspaper believes in free speech for all, even for those with whom it disagrees. But we cannot help feeling sorry for Dr. Butler in his embarrassment. An aroused student body and an aroused citizenry want to know why Dr. Butler brings Dr. Luther to Columbia, which is supposed to spread information and not hokum. Dr. Butler answers free speech, and Dr. Butler is right. And is Dr. Butler’s face red?”
The editorial proceeds to enumerate instances of Dr. Butler’s violation of what The Post calls freedom of speech.
“Dr. Butler may be liberal enough to lend Columbia to Dr. Luther for Nazi propaganda. But he can hardly pose as a consistent champion of free speech,” concludes the editorial.
The Sun launches its attack on Dr. Luther and makes the point that the reason for the audience’s laughter at the German ambassador’s words regarding democracy as it is practiced in the Third Reich, was probably due to differences people attach to the meaning of the word democracy.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
