The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-07-30
The Peace LOVING
Mr.NOy1uam Thomas

American Socialist Party and of the
Japanese Socialist Party. Mr.. Mat
sutani, the leader of the Japanese
Socialist Party and member cf
Parliament declared:
"The operations conducted by the
Japanese troops in Manchuria have
not been carried out in capitalist
interests. These operations were
made necessary by a desire to solve
the national problem. That which Is
proceeding In Manchuria at the
moment is very far removed from
a capitalist war"
The Social Chauvinists Of both
countries are in perfect agreement.
Norman Thomas sees "geuine griev-
ances" for the conduct of Japanese
imperialism's war, and the Socialist
Mr.. Matsutani fails to see" the cap
italist nature OF the Japanese war. In
fact as he says ut is very far re-
moved from q capitalist war;"
Birds of feather flock together.
May we disturb the honorable
gentleman with another quotation
from another book of his which ex-
poses the peace loving Norman Tho
mas as jingoist? In his book CAM
ericas Way Out, on page za3, we
read:
However much one may SYM
pathize with the exploited %, one
cannot admit that the romantic
nationalism Of dependent nations
or the weaker nations, makes for
peace and prosperity. In Europe
today, 1t Is precisely those nations
with least at stake which are the
most bellicose."
According to Mr.. Thomas it is not
French, British and italian imperial
isms which are responsible for the
developing new world war, but their
vassals as Czechoslovakia, Poland, etc.
The innocent Mr.. Norman Thomas
tries to confuse the militarism Of the
imperialist vassals, their bellieoso
practices, with the struggle Of the
oppressed national minorities for the
right of self determination in Poland,
in Czechoslovakia in Roumania. .fhe
leading irnperialist powers make for
peace and prosperity" and the OPP
pressed national minorities struggling
for self determination are condemned
for their romantic nationalism' and
bellicose attitude!
In Europe the struggle Of the OPP
pressed national minorities 10 "ro-
mantle nationalism," and In the
United States, the struggle Of the
Negro people for self determination
in the black belt in the South, is
condemned in the terms Of the white
lyncherS as race riots. Is 1t not
fact that whenever Negro people are
defending themselves against white
lynchers that the white ruling class
calls 1t race riot2 Oh no, 1t is not
American imperialism which Is res
ponsible for the lynching and oppres-
sion of the Negro people, but the
Negro people who fight for their ma
tional rights to self determination
are melting race riots, etc.
One should not, God forbid, hold
American imperialism responsible for
sending marines to Nicaragua, main
tanning the military occupation in
the Philippine Islands, Hawaii and
Haiti. Are not the weaker nations,
the ones who are most belliccse?
Indeed, when one thinks Of the
Chaos which exists in Nicaragua,
can one blame our militarists and
forget the fact that Wall Street has
some genuine grievances?
Mr.. Norman Thomas is indeed fair
minded, but toward whom? To the
class he represents, TO the capitalist
class. 1t is the capitalists who have
genuine grievances" no matter "how
one may sympathize with the ex-
plotted" Mr.. Thomas is peace loving,
that is, he presents the imperialists as
angels of peace, and the oppressed
nationalities are accused of race riots
are bellieose etc., and when he is
charitable, he ISLANDERS their struggles
with the terms Of romantic ma
tionalisn.'
Mr.. Thomas shrinks back In horror
at the sight of blood, but not when it
is working class blood caused by the
violence Of the ruling class. The
peace loving Thomases and fair
minded ONeals are the loyal servants
Of the capitalist class, and the great
est enemies within the ranks Of the
totlers.