Evening star., 1936-10-12
On the Record
Americas Role as Foreigners Talk of Drawing Lines
for "War of Relipion"

pend very much on what Is the DOM
inant feeling in the rest Of Europe.
For three years Mr.. Hitler has black
mailed the democratic countries,
threatening, like Samson, to pull down
the European structure unless Ger
many were given this or that, while
Mussolini has defled Europe openly.
No wonder that . part Of the Span
iards were prepared to throw In their
lot with . dictatorship. When the
democracies changed from q defensive
to an offensive position, although they
have done 1t only In the realm Of eco
nonics. the European picture changed
considerably.
The Fascist relationships will con-
tinue to clamor that an Armageddon
is approaching, religious war" be.
tween the forces Of order and the
forces Of anarchy. The Russians will
accept the dictum and say an Arma-
geddon is approaching between the
forces Of democracy and the forces Of
tyranny. Both the Communist and
the Fascist relationships need the
threat of approaching conflict to as
sist them in holding together their
people under the terrific hardships
which the dictatorial systems impose.
But whether the Armageddon occurs
and embroils large part of the world
Will depend on the extent to which the
thesis Of Mussolini, Hitler and Stain
Is accepted elsewhere.
Dangerous Campaign Statements.
That is what makes the participa-
ton Of the sympathies of our own
few Communists in the foreign strug.
gle somewhat dangerous, and that Is
what makes some Of the very reck-
less statements being made during this
campaign even more dangerous. Mr..
Hearst's campaign against communism
Is just the sort Of thing to work
people up into the religious crusading
spirit which will compel them to see
an eventual struggle between q Com
munist and . Fascist dictatorship rs
an Armageddon which calls for all
good men and true. And that Is
what makes the manner Of John Ham
tlton's attacks on Mr.. Dubinsky, to
say the least, regrettable. For, although
Mr.. Hamilton may deplore that .
body OF American workers chose to
send some money to the Spanish
workers to aid them in ther cam
paign, 1t was an entirely unofiicial
action, and Mr. Hamilton's own speech
was not q plea for neutrality, but
was q TRADE against the Spanish
loyalists and by clearest inference on
behalf Of the Spanish rebels. In his
attempt to smear the President
through Mr.. Dubinsky with collabora-
ton with the Spanish loyalists he
inferred q sympathy on his own part
with the Spanish insurgents. It Is .
completely untenable position. Mr..
Dubinsky, also, is Of no great i'm
portance. But Mr.. Hamilton Is the
manager Of the campaign of the man
who may be the next President Of the
United States.
For Mussolini Is right. II there Is
another war 1t will be Q highly moral
affair. Most wars are. On one side
will be ranged all those who claim
to represent "the people," "fresdom,"
democracy" and "the workers" On
the other side will be those who claim
to represent civilization" order"
religion" and tradition" And the
thing that we shall have to bear In
mind very vigorously Is that war has
been Q woeful failure in extending
either democracy or civilization or
order or religion. For those who
think that Russia represents freedom
I urge Q careful perusal Of the ofilcial
Russian report Of the recent trial Of
the Trotzkyists, whereby one may see
what opposition becomes under any
form Of dictatorship. It becomes out
right conspiracy and high treason.
And for those who think Germany
represents order and civilization
recommend reading carefully day by
day any newspaper published in Ger
many. Read how q great and beauti.
full art exhibition was closed last
month because the pictures didn't