The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-09-19


 Probably wiser generation than ours will devote the summer to c respectful partisan silence and give over October alone to saving the country. Of course, it is natural that the candidates should want to be early at the vineyard, but the electorate ts en- titled to some confederation.
 It may be that October's brace ing air will encourage us to dis- ctiss the two great problems, monopoly and currency, which hold in q death-like grip the in- terests of the common people of this country, whether we have what we call prosperity or de- precision. But, be that as it may, I shall not, upon this occasion, discuss questions which are, or should be, so closely associated with the campaign.
 Historic Changes
 The last 25 years in many re- spects have wrought greater changes in the whole setup of human affairs than the 250 years preceding. This ct first may appear to be m over-statemeit. But the more you reflect upon 1t, the less you will think so.
 Measured by the dynasties which have been toppled over; the idols which have been broken: the Relationships which have sprung up; the beliefs which have been uprooted, or doubted; the long-accepted political principles discredited; the theories of gov- ernment, regarded for decades as all but sacred, questioned or re- iected; the improvement of nla- chinery for the wholesale murder of human beings; the cherished ideals changed or abandoned, these twenty-five years stand out separate and apart in history, grim, stupendous and bewildering.
 And the question which tugs at our heaft-strings every waking hour is! HOW CAN VIE PRE- SERVE AND MAINTAIN OF THAT WHICH WE KNOW AND REVERE AS AMERICAN?
 Foreign Entanglements
 If we venture Into other foreign wars or mix in the political af- fairs of foreign governments, we will probably save none of it. And, if we do not recognize and properly appraise this blessed heritage and concentrate our ef- forts as . people on the task of preserving it, we will at no dis tant day realize that the as- ssssin's bullet at Serajevo which set Europe in flames, also irrl- periled the whole scheme of civilizatoin set up on this western 7 continent 149 years ago on the 1Tth day of this September.
 These devastating years have brought us face to face with the question: Can this new standard of living, this new scheme of gov- ernment, be preserved? Under lying all questions being dis cussed in this campaign-taxes, debts, tariffs-is this profound question, which in one way or ari- other we as . nation will in time answer.
 Two Political Systems
 Two philosophies of politics, two systems of government, arl- tagonistic and irreccncilable, are contending for supremacy throughout the world, and we can not De indifferent to this con- test. Basically, this conflict of systems rests upon the broad and vital question whether the peo- pie are to have a voice in govern inent, or whether popular rule is to yield to the demands of arbi- trary power, whether the citizen is to be a sovereign or a subject. The latter is the position taken by the leading nations of the world with very few-two or perhaps three exceptions.
 This battle is being fought cut in practically every nation Of the world. Upon this issue there can be no compromise. There Is no middle grounds. If faScism, or communism, or naxism, now dominating the af- fairs of the European continent, should accept 3 single principle of demomocracyy-the liberty of citizens, free speech, trial under the lew by . jury of peers--the whole vast fabric of absolute power would cave in over night.
 On the other hand, once de- nnoeraey opens the dykes to arbi- trary power, surrenders the basic principles upon which 1t rests, every other principle of democracy stands in peril; and, as recent history in Europe discloses, 1t would, of course, be a brief time