They were mistaken when they spoke as though a moral value or rule of tolerance followed logically from cultural relativism. Professional philosophers have had a great time beating up on them for making that mistake. But in spite of that, maybe what they said had value.

• They criticized the arrogance of the colonial powers.
• Perhaps their view, even though it involved a philosophical mistake, was a useful corrective to years of interference and abuse.

Besides that, even though Herskovits and Benedict were wrong to think there was a logical link between cultural or ethical relativism and tolerance, they may be correct if we interpret them to be saying that there is a psychological link. In other words, it may be a psychological fact that people who accept cultural relativism or ethical relativism are more likely to be more tolerant of moral diversity. In that way, ethical relativism may lead to tolerance.