Restitution

The Board of regents of the University of Wisconsin has made a commendable move toward international friendship in restoring to Germans and German-Americans the honorary degrees taken from them during the hysteria of the World War.

In the heat of the patriotic enthusiasm prevalent during 1917 and 1918 many institutions were swept into taking away from great scientists and thinkers the honors given them. A taint of Germanism was sufficient to brand a great man as an enemy to be despised. A slight leaning towards peace was sufficient to label a man a pacifist or a traitor to democracy.

Revoking honorary degrees granted to great men for their achievements in the service of their fellow men of all nations was unjust for achievement must be recognized in spite of political and national differences.

As the memories of the war gradually become dimmer, the people of this country are beginning to realize that the hatreds of war days were unreal, manufactured in the interests of political and economic disputes. As we come to look upon our former enemies as fellow human beings, not boasts, we appreciate all the more their character and achievements. We are bound to them in a spirit of mutual respect and international friendship. The restoration of degrees to their rightful owners by the University of Wisconsin is a step in the right direction. We are only sorry that they were taken away during the war. Daily Illini.