Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-13
LEW|SMAKESPLEA
FOR DEMOCRACY
AT Lowest Ebb in so Years.
Senator Declares in
Radio Forum.

Declaring democracy to be sat the
lowest ebb it has been for SO years, u
Senator j. Hamilton Lewis, Democrat
Of Illinois appealed to the people of
this Nation last night Ito conjoin
with any undertaking under eStab-
lished constitution with such nations
of the world who are struggling to
preserve on our basis democracy of
the people"
Let us extend our hand Of aid" he
continued, land assure these nations
of our cooperation in behalf of con-
stitutional principles of democratic
republics"
The colorful senatorial veteran
spoke in the National Radio Forum,
sponsored by The Evening Star and
broadcast over Nation wide hook-up
OF the National Broadcasting Co.
Text Of Lewis Talk.
The text of Senator Lewis address
follows:
answer the query, where stands
America at this world crisis in democ-
racy."
We ask, what is this crisis. Let us
plainly answer it is, that in the whole
world, democracy-Which is govern
ment by the will of the people, and the
rule OF government by voice of its
peoples at the lowest ebb it has been
for SO years. Not since the war be-
tween the American States has de-
mocracy been so rejected
Nations which once boaSted that
they had by revolution wrenched
themselves from the government of
kings, and by war overthroWn the
oppression, have now turned to re-
establish kings and with an embrace
OF devotion surrendered in servile
obedience. This they have evidenced
to the whole earth in actions barbaric
upon nations and murderous upon
people. We have the fulfillment of de-
scription by Byron:
First freedom, then glory. With
that past
Avarice, corruption, barbarism at
last
And all of history's volumes vast
Hath writ one page"
Nations which for a generation ex-
horted the world to support them in
their declared democracy are now
repudiating it all These now choose
to publicly proclaim their adoption of
the tyranny of tyrants and their ap-
proving the dictation of dictators.
Toys of Temptation.
History records that multiplied
mankind of organized society was first
seduced to give in to imperial power
for the promise Of benefits, these
benefits being rewards in money
worth. Later they were allured by
the prize of privileges and honors con-
ferred. These toys of temptation were
TO compensate for the surrender of
democracy, and pay for the abolish
ment of free government directed from
the mind and speaking the human
needs.
All these who now compromised
their principles at first denounced the
slavery of intellect as humiliation.
They cried out for civilization to sup
port their aspiration and to DESTROY
the oppression that took from them
the freedom of life
The poet, Pope, translates the Odys-
sey Of Homer, saying:
"Jove fixed it certain, that whatever
day
Makes man slave, takes half his
worth away"
Here We summon you to know that
IN government of men in the area
Of freedom there are two agencies
that ever conspire to overcome the
will and make the slave. First, the
tyranny of masters in the administra-
ton by dictators. To one form of
united power people yield through
fear or weakness. The other, dissolu-
ton of popular will is by seduction Of
the masses through the promise of
profit and assurance of power to be
enjoyed. 1t is these that bring humble
citizens to denounce and declare as
their enemy of property or privileges
enjoyed by others.
When the criminal masters of au-
thority have absorbed the products Of
farm and factory and withered by
oppression the trade or commerce, they
educate the sufferers to organize
against each other and become the
mass mob of the highways.
Tyranny of Mob Excells.
NO tyranny can excel that of the
mob, none so subject to the conspiring
oppressor or demagogue as the aroused
masses This it iS utkicl, c,,..a.la..