The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-11-12
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
By FRANK P. LITSCHERT

The recent British election bringing
to the Nationalist government the
most complete victory in the history
of British elections may well be an
important step upward out of the
worldwide depression. A few weeks
ago great many people were fearful
that Great Britain was about to be
engulfed in a wave of financial chaos.
There were rumors of mutiny in the
British navy, the budget was unbal-
anced and the country had to go off
the gold standard. The British En-
pire had apparently come to the part
ing of the ways.
That there was a real national
crisis, that the nation was faced with
the choice of a return to fundamentals
or chaos, is not to be doubted. In
this hour, the inherent patriotism of
the British people asserted itself, and
the result was the most decisive blow
for nationalism and against interna-
tional socialism in the history of the
country. That this occurred need not
surprise those who are in any way ia
miliar with the history of Great Bri
tain. Separated from the mainland
by water, the British people were able
to form a nation, long before the same
thing was possible for the continent.
AS an island nation the people early
became convinced that their national
safety rested on a foundation of I'M
ity and national defense. National
defense took the form of the most
powerful navy in the world.
AS result, British tradition is
centuries old, and for many genera
lions the people have been convinced
that their very existence depended
on their national unity and their Brit
ish traditions. So successful were the
efforts of the people that the little
island country grew to be an empire
on which the sun never set. National
traditions of safety were therefore re-
inforced by national pride. Of late
there have been indications that the
British empire might disintegrate,
that Great Britain might lose its place
as the clearing house of the worlds
business. Whether or not this is true,
the fact remains that when the Brit
ish people realized that their nation
alism, and their place in the sun was
threatened by economic disaster, and
realized the cause of this threatened
disintegration, they spoke in no I'M
certain terms at the ballot-box. The
sweeping endorsement of conserva-
tism in government was the result.
49,
There is a lesson for America in
this election. The time may come
perhaps sooner than many of US re-
alize, when we will be faced with a
choice between fundamental princi-
Piles of government, and national dis
Indignation. Will our answer be as
decisive as that of Great Britain? 1t
is true that we have written glorious
history in the short time allotted to
US nation. We do not possess GEN.
turtles of tradition and national uni
ty, as found in Great Britain, but we
do have, or had until recently, an
American spirit which baked at no
danger and no handicap. The great
heart of America is still sound, still
adheres to the fundamental principles
of American government. But there
are abroad in the land forces of dis
Indignation, as powerful as those
which almost wreaked havoc in Great
Britain. We have men in high places,
so called intellectuals, who sheer at
patriotism, who decry the teaching of
history from an American standpoint,
who would destroy our national de-
16uSe anu OuT COuSLlIuLlOIldl SONSIH-
ment.
At present they seem to be getting
the space in the newspapers, and
great deal more attention than they
deserve. What will the result be?
If we are to meet the crisis as Great
Britain has met it, when our hour as
a nation strikes, is it not necessary
that we have a revival of real patri-
otism and of national thought? There
is too much internationalism abroad
in the land, too much philosophy
which has it's roots in Eastern Eu-
rope rather than in the soil of Amer
lea. When we get back to preaching
first principles and acting them as
well as preaching them, in our relig-
ion, in our business and in our home
and social life, things will once more
adjust themselves and the good ship
America will move forward again.