New Britain herald., 1930-03-25
FREE SPEECH AND PRESS ESSENTIAL.
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| voice of the people is the voice of : God ....s- .s..
 Rabbi Scllwartz's address was as follows:
 ''This is period in which. no in stitution is. immune from criticism. Every institution is exposed to examination of it's fundamental premises. All our forms of social life must face thorough scrutiny Tn this age.
 It was, the great war that threw our contemporary institutions and ideals into the crucible. Few have come out as diScredited as demo- cracy. Many of the leading thinkers of today lose mo opportunity to at- tack the institution of democracy. Many there are who sheer at the value of popular government The world is. disllusioned about the en- tire efficacy of the democratic Ideal. Few pretend to believe any longer ir government by the people. Few can be found who give credence to the ancient saying that the voice of the people is the voice of God
 The real blow to democracy came during the war. War and democracy are incompatible. You can't have a war in modern times and popular government at the same time. Macauiay said: No army has ever prospered under d. debating society," Wars are fought now between nations-and not between armies alone. The whole nation must he mobilized for one task-the defeat Of the enemy. Democracy means the right to question the procedure of your government at any moment, But you cant wage a war in this age and have at the same time the right : of free speech and free press These must be silenced during q war, ant when you silence these. democracy is dead.
 And what happened to democracy after the war? Two of the inn pertant countries in Europe turned their backs completely on the demo- cratic experiment in government. l mean the former empire of the Cars, Russia and Italy. In both countries the men ruling the destinies of each turn with cynical sneers at those who still claim to have faith in the democratic ideal.
 There are the communists i'll Russia. Russia has a population of 130,000,00o and it is ruled by 60O,o0u members of the Communist party. They frankly aver that they do not want any democracy. What the communists want is A Dictatorship of the Prolctariat' and they have it.. Since they sheer at democracy, there is no real free speech and a free press in Russia.
 And tNen there is Italy, Where are the fine dreams of Mazzini and inc youth of Italy of 50 years ago. who believed in parliamentary gov ernment and who saw in Italy the country that would be the demo- cratic ideal to the nations of the world? Italy is an autocracy. Par liamcntary government is q sham. There's that little. cheap imitation of , Napoleon, Benito Mussolini, who brandishes his sword and tramples upon every democratic tradition. If you want presperity,. he. asserts yoY ! must transfer power to me. -'-'fhe parliament, of Italy is but a. tool in i the hands of this modern autocrat who says with Louis 4tlr of old- L'etat, c est moi'-,I am the state
 What is very disturbing to those who would like to sec the revival of the dentocratic ideal is the num- Der of prominent Americans who from time to time broadcast state ments in which a singular affection for Mussolini and his autocratic government is expressed. And there is usually a hint that bit of Fascism would be a desirable thing for these United States.
 Tn the United States this Is an indication of the growing disillusion- ,1nent abott democracy This atti tude is reinforced by the cynical point of view manifested by the great mass of people. They shrug their shoulders and manifest no in- dignation at colossal government scandals whose stench rises unto the heavens. What's the use Of getting indignant.'-is the view of the average, citizen. -r.
 Isn't it an indication of a growing scynicism about the efficacy Of popu-