Einstein Warns World of Moral Decay

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 18

Einstein Warns World of Moral Decay

NEW YOEK. — A plea for the Te-es-tablishment of truth and justice throughout the world is contained in a letter by Prof. Alber Einstein to the Young Men's Christian in connection with its. international celebration of Founder's Day. "The political and eeonomic conflicts and complexities of the past few de* cades have brought before our eyes dangers which even the darkest pessimist of the last century did not dream of," he said. "The injunctions of the Bible concerning human conduct were then accepted by believer and infidel alike as self-evident demands for in* dividuals and society. "Yet to-day we must recognize with horror that these pillars of civilized human existence have lost their firmness. Nations that once xanked high bow down before tyrants who dare openly to assert: l.ight is that which serves us! The quest for truth for its own sake has no justification and is not to be tolerated. Arbitrary rule, oppression, persecution of individuals, faiths and communities are openly practiced in those countries and accepted as justifiable'or inevitable, "And the rest of the world has slowly grown accustomed to these symptoms of moral decay. Oue misses the elementary reaction against injustice and for justice — that reaction which in the long run represents man's only protection against relapse into barbarism. "Let us refuse to accept fateful compromises. .Let us not even shun the fight when it is unavoidable to preserve right and the dignity of man. If we do this we shall soon return to conditions that will allow us to rejoice in humanity." Messages also were sent by William Green, president of the American Federation of Labour, and John L. Lewis, chairman of the Committee for Iudustrial Organization.