Evening star., 1936-10-28


vielded - to the New Dorothy Thompson
Dealers, and thereby lost much Of its
leadership. The most effective spokes.
men for the Republicans at this mo-
ment are Democrats. And however
trenchant the criticism leveled at the
administration may be, the fact re-
mains that the opposition Is chiefly
asking the American people to vote
against something in a few days
time, instead of for something.
have doubted from the beginning
whether this tactic would succeed. But
II it does, there is an apprehension
even among some Of its supporters
that it will establish only breathing
space" for an economic boom which
may be all too brief, after which the
furies will be loose again.
Nationalism Awakened in 1892.
Actually, the psychological force
which gave Mr.. Roosevelt his first tre-
mendous elan-which rolled up the
votes for him in 1892 and sustained
him SO strongly for many months
was an awakened and conscious Amer
ican nationalism, liberal in spirit, as
traditional Americanism Is. It re-
sponded to his appeal for solidarity
in the face Of crisis; it listened eagerly
to his comforting and confident words;
1t recognized his courage in pointing
out serious national problems and de-
linquencies; and 1t responded to his
avowed decision to do something about
them.
That recognition and desire are still
present in the American people. But
a certain measure Of it has been alien
ated from the President. There was
time when the President had the
people of the United States in his
confidence. One no longer feels that.
One does not know any longer exactly
what the President is driving at, and
he does not tell us.
Also, confidence has been alienated
by methods. There has been q ten
dency to talk a great deal about supe-
rior purposes and ends. but TO be ex.
| tremely careless about any old means
Of achieving them. But many thought
full people are quite sure that the
means are more important, if pos
sible, than the end, and that the
means, in the long run, always deter
mine the end.
One cannot possibly believe that our
social life Is going to be purified by
the political spoilsmen whom We saw
assembled at the Democratic Conven-
ton. And the fear of concentrated
personal authority Is very real indeed
Barrier Erected.
A regime which began with an ap-
peal to all honest Americans and q
request for disinterested collaboration,
has finally asked chiefly for trust and
acceptance, rather than for UNDER
standing. For one can only cooperate
with what one understands, and no
amount Of propaganda can take the
place OF unanswered questions.
On the other hand, the nature Of
some Of the opposition to Mr.. Roose-
welt has won him support in unex-
pected quarters. The virulent hatred
Of the President, often expressed in
most reckless language, the lack of
respect even for the high ofice he
holds, the unbridled peddling of un-
supported rumors, the personal gos-
sip, publicly suppressed but whispered
in drawing rooms. the hysterical COM
plants of impending ruin uttered by
people who have never, throughout
the depression. known q moment of
physical discomfort, ALLEVIATE, and even
frighten the truly conservative temper,
which does not incline toward hys-
terra and has an affinity for manners.
1t Is, therefore, as q result Of nu-
merous factors, for not all of which
the President Is responsible, that Mr..
Roosevelt's following has become more
and more a class following. The New
Deal threatens to become class party.
The emergence after the elections of
a Farmer-Labor party under trade
union domination and with collec-
Twist principles is predicted; under
the aegis Of the Government If Mr..
Roosevelt Is reelected; in the opposi-
ton, which will catch up most Of the
present New Deal sentiment, If he Is
not.
Mass Greed to Fall.
If that is the uncertain present and
the possible future of the New Deal
and one must carefully qualify the
probability-it ought to be primarily
Q cause Of concern to Mr.. Roosevelt
not to his opponents. If the President
has given up his first attempt to con-
solidate the national will, and come
to rest instead upon class support
plus an army of political spoilsmen
then the New Deal also is ready to be
buried.
Masses" is neither an American
word nor an American idea One can
| make this prediction with the simple
confidence born Of observing the in.
variable defeat Of such ideas in much
more favorable soil during the last 20
| years. In not q single country has
a party or movement organized on
the idea of class division won and
maintained the political power. I do
not except Russia, for the bolshevist
revolution was a coup detat made by
o handful Of men.
Political activity along the lines OF
the class struggle can create disorder;
1t can also, and often has, introduced
measures for reform.
Communists Change Front.
The Communists are so aware OF
this that having once abandoned the
idea Of revolution by violence and
substituted an appeal to the whole
electorate they. too, are trying to cap
| italize nationalism and are calling fol
united fronts to include nearly every
body. Browder calls American COM
munism twentieth century American
ism. That Is not Marxianism. It Is
nonsense.