The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-23
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES :

DR. CHARLES A. BEARD thus describes how
- civil liberties have been abrogated in Ger
many and other Fascist countries:
1 AT the opening of the twentieth century
every enlightened nation of the earth had estab-
lished certain rules of policy deemed essential to
! the conduct of a civilized society
These rules included among others religious
liberation, equality before the law trial of all
offenses in open court by an impartial tribunal
and the use of reason in the Qualification and
settlement of public questions. These rules were
often violated in practice by governments and
by mobs but violations not boastfully re-
garded as triumphs of genius.
In time of war and revolution, it was gen.
orally understood that these rules might be set
aside and defeated by governments and by mobs,
| but these violations we're regarded as temporary
and not the discoveries of superior political in
| telligence.
THE history of the past four hundred years
is in large measure the history of the struggle
| to establish these rules in law and practice-to
wreSt from arbitrary and irresponsible power
| sands of men and women sacrificed their for
! tunes and even their lives. The stake and the
! gallows are their monuments
WITH this battle for liberty are associated
! w the great personalities whom we are
| proud to honor and keep alive in memory. We
did not believe that their work was perfect. We
knew that eternal vigilance was the price of lib
erty. But we thought that our task was merely
| the refinement and the more exact application
of these liberties to which they had dedicated
| their lives and fortunes.
Nov, however, we find these rules not only
violated but openly f1outed by powerful govern
ments as weak and childish sentiments We see
brutal and irresponsible power enthroned and
exalted as the newest and final discovery of
political science. For liberation is substituted
intolerance Equality before the law is replaced
or104f 81 01J1
Instead of the administration of justice by
impartial tribunals we see men and women
beaten, mutilated, murdered or herded in con-
centration camps at the whim of Self-constituted
| rill-sergeantS.
THE use of reason in the discussion and set
Element of public questions is derided childish
nonsense and in place of the democratic process
we are to have government by irresponsible
brute force, by unquestioned and unchallenged
oerserker rage.
THESE things are not done inadvertently.
They are done deliberately and on prin-
ciple And those who sponsor the new tyranny
take glory unto themselves in debaSing liberty
and eXalting sheer power"
If we to prevent such a situation in the
United States we must see to it that there is no
entering wedge for any such tyre nical DONNA
ton over the minds of the American people.
On the very day which l read Professor
Boards warning blast against HitleriSm I read
newspaper article relative to the Ives bill. This
bill would compel every teacher to take the fol-
lowing oath:
81 do solennnly swear Cor affirm that will
support the Constitution of the United States of
America and the Constitution of the state of
New York, and that will faithfully discharge,
according to the best of my ability the duties of
the position to which am now assigned"
This looked innocent, but it would have
opened itself up to every conceivable abuse in a
rjcic A11x fbo Iiou,c ul1i
dominant faction wished to enforce could easily
and quickly have been interpreted as disloyalty
to the Constitution.
The tendency of the political party in power
is to identify it's particular economic and polt-
ical prejudces with constitutionality.
Governor Lehman is to be heartily congratu-
lated for his courage and progressivism in veto
ing this menacing potential step in the direction
of Hitlerism in New York state There should
be no opening wedge.