Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-03-07

OCneS IN the cOnnneS OF Cne1r cluDS
does not contain the terrors that
it does when disseminated in over
ais from box in a public square.
Other than to prove beyond refuta-
ton that the day of capitalism is
over. John Strachey's visit to this sec
ton hast week proved no great boon
to the people of the Northwest. His
lectures revealed that he has no mes
sage for Americans, that he carries
no torch which might light the road
ahead.
Offered No Cure.
Mr.. Strachey gave us Illuminating
pictures of what MARKHAM principles
have done for Russia; he laid a def
finger on the fallacy of the New Deal,
but he, like others who have attempt
ed to apply Continental political medi-
cine to the economic, political and
social ills of the United States, pre-
Sented no cures, no even palliativeS
or panaceas, for our pernicious all
ments.
that the New Deal is only tinkering
with capitalism. He cited figures and
facts to show that these efforts have
only raised the cost of living to a
point where small wage gains are in
fact turned into wage reductions.
During it's operation, he pointed out,
the rich have grown richer and the
l. ;-
due to the fact that capitalism pro-
duces for profit, not for use. He said
that capitalism can produce but can
not distribute purchasing power to
absorb production. Therein he laid
bare the absurdity of capitalism.
However, where Mr.. Strachey erred,
and erred badly, was when he dog
matically declared that Communism
was the one system which could sue
cessfully replace capitalism in Amer
lea.
Not for Minnesota.
In Minnesota we have other ideas.
We have another program, an Amer
lean program which has place for
those American ideals. institutions,
habits and characteristics we cherish.
all of which are exiled by Commu-
nism and Fascism.
One of the things which European
proponents of Communism and Fas-
cism who come over here to lecture
do not seem to be able to assimilate
is that the United States is peculiar
and that in heritage. present prob
lens and future it is, and will be.
different from other nations.
The history of European peoples is
written by the conflict between the
masses and the feudal system. 1t is
true that economics dictates the
course of any nations destiny, but
economics in Europe was tightly in
terwOven with feudalism. The con-
flict with feudalism bred a class
minded. crushed people and divided
society into distinct strata which cut
natural human incentive, eliminated
opportunity and required that the
masses live on a scale that barely
sustained life. But even under this
oppression the indomitable spirit Of
man was able to take small step after
small step toward something better
until the World war marked the up
heaval of the people in Russia and
Italy, and later, Germany.
In demanding emancipation the
Europeans failed to go so far as to
insist on privileges and rights that
Americans have always theoretically
possessed.
FaSc1sm Abnormal.
Not being as dogmatic, prejudiced
and intOlerant as Mr.. Strachey, who
contends that "Das Capital" is nat
ural law. we concede that the MARKHAM
system has undoubtedly accomplished
much good in Russia and that it
might be applicable to other foreign
nations. Fascism, on the other hand,
has nothing to recommend it. II is q
political philosophy designed to salts
fy the ambitions Of few capitalistic
and power-mad individuals.
America has its conflict, but its
conflict has not been with feudalism
such struggle was removed by the
American peoples initial militant ex-
preston the Revolutionary war. Once
we became a democratic nation predi-
Gated on principles Of freedom and
equality unheard Of in the world prior
to 1776. the American conflict became
one OF struggle with the wilderness, a
conflict OF expansion. utilization Of
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