The history of the Crimson national and international editorial columns is a strange blend of the popular mood of the day, and the very real individuality of each board. If the former did not lead the Crimson into inconsistencies, the latter certainly did, and for such meandering the editors were occasionally taken to task by older, wiser, and more static journals. But, as the editors in the spring of 1917 replied to a criticism of this kind in the old Boston Transcript: "We could not, for the sake of consistency, maintain a policy which in conscience the majority of the board could not support." Three wars, and the aftermath of one of them, are presented in highlight below.

Remember the Maine

"Not only does the country need patriotic support, but she needs that support which can plan for the future, can discipline and prepare itself for the discipline and service to come . . . The truest patriotism is after all that which lays aside self-gratification in any form and seeks intelligently the path of greatest usefulness." (April 27, 1898)

Tolerance

". . . Here we are still tolerant . . . it is well that one of the world's centers of learning rejects partisanship when many others are blinded and we can only hope that post-bellum patriotism will not affect Harvard's internationalism." (October 6, 1916)

The Harvard Regiment

". . . If war should come, us we feel it will, may those men face their flag who talk so valiantly now of peace . . . Today is the chance for you. No self-interest, no shuffling of the demands of conscience should shake you. Be true to your manhood, to your education, to your youth. The time is now. In three months it may be too late." (February 17, 1917)

Wilson's Message

". . . The Allies have had our sympathy and moral support for the last two years, but the righteous opportunity has come for us to change our attitude. From now on every element of strength should be concentrated on the task of suppressing a military power that has long lost regard for the most fundamental and human rights of other peoples. Sacrifices . . . must be made readily and joyfully . . ." (April 3, 1917)

Letters

"Hereafter, the Crimson will print no more communications of a pacifistic nature. If there are any members of the University so blind or cowardly in spirit as to clamor for neutrality when all hope of neutrality is dead, they should commune with themselves in private and find reflection in the definition of traitors as those ". . . adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort." (April 4, 1917)

>War

". . . We have entered on the road which can have no turning . . . Imperialism will perish before without fail and inevitably the day of the failure of the imperialism of Germany was forewritten from that time when she made her enemy in the greatest democracy in the world." (April 6, 1917)

The Army Routine

"The time for inflexible military discipline in the University is past . . . The University has done its part. It is the duty of the military authorities to do their share in bridging the gap by relaxing discipline as much as possible . . ." November 29, 1918)