Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/185

an example of how the national and historical principles were applied in combination. We have considerable fragments of other nations with us. For our mutual relations the program of humanity must be the norm; our minorities may be the organ of true internationalism. Mutual acquaintance, mutual economic and cultural relations may and should make of our Republic an example to Europe and all mankind.

The question of language and its inherent difficulties must not frighten us. Language is a substantial part of nationality, but it does not exhaust the concept and content of nationality; of course the mother tongue is equally precious to every nation. The cultivation of language in the national spirit is done through literature, science and philosophy. For the modern, democratic state language signifies principally an administrative problem. We shall solve our question of language and of minorities, when we will treat the language question not as political, as was done in Austria and Hungary, but as administrative.

The program of humanity is not the program of weak pacifism and supine yielding. It is true that our Chelčický and in modern days Tolstoy identified humanity with non-resistance to evil. That is not correct. I recall how I had a controversy several times with Tolstoy on this point, because I drew the deduction from the program of humanity that it is just the love of neighbor, love of nation and humanity which commands us to defend ourselves with all energy, to resist everything evil, everywhere, always and in all things. To defend oneself does not mean coercing others, it means using weapons to repel violence. Defense does not spring from lust of domination, quite the contrary; it is therefore natural, necessary and morally fully justified.