Evening star., 1938-03-29

lam E. BORAH.
reality involving the welfare OF a
nation will break the theory in pieces
Washington, under conditions not dis
similar to our conditions at present,
declared: There can be no greater
error than to expect, or calculate
upon, real favors from nation to ma
ton. 1t is an illusion which expert
ence must cure. which just pride
ought to discard"
The theory that you can save democ-
racy through an alliance with democ-
racy is misleading theory An alli-
ance is an alliance, with all its burdens
and dangers, its debts, controversies
and wars. Such an alliance would
have all the vices and none of the
virtues of the old balance of power.
1t would be potent enough to get us
into all kinds of involvements, but not
strong enough to get us out, for when
the crucial test came the question Of
democracy would give way to national
interests or, more likely, national am
billions.
The problems of democracy, espe-
cially our democracy-andI believe of
all democracies-lie closer home and
are to be worked out along wholly
different lines. After we have pro-
vided adequate defense for our Nation,
as we shall do, the problems OF democ-
racy remain. Democracies are bleed
ing lnWardly. The healing Is not to
be found in armaments, but in bring
ing contentment, happiness and pros
perity to the harried, confused and
| discouraged citizen. There is greater
danger to our democracy in that vast
army of unemployed encamped in
every city, town and village through
out the land, in that 50,00O,000 men,
women and children living in constant
sight Of the poverty line, poorly clad
and poorly fed, in the hundreds of
thousands, with the number increas-
ing every year, of malformed and
rlckety children, of the 5000 900 girls
and boys who leave colleges and uni
versities finding no avenue in which
to engage their energies. their genius
more danger here by far than in any
fleet of battleships which any nation,
or group Of nations, may choose to
send against us.
The danger coming from the latter
is remote, highly problematical. But
the danger as to the former is here
IN all its hideous ugliness eating away
at the moral fiber of our people. Wide
spread poverty, want and suicide walk
ing with want, will in time break the
morale and destroy the faith in gov
ernment of any people. I care not
what flag floats over a people, what
their traditions as to liberty NAV be-
now we'll their institutions of govern
ment express the aspirations and hopes
OF people, crushing taxes and hunger
and disease and broken families will
IN time undermine and destroy all
these things. These are the things
which make for Communism and
fasclsm and which today wage war
against every democracy in the world
This is the problem of democracy. II
democracy cannot find a cure for the
olsease OF waste, for the things which
undermine and discourage the citizen
and dissipate his energies, it is useless
to talk of combinations or alliances. or
in preparedness. because the remedy
OF these things constitutes the true
basis Of all preparedness.
Menaces Abroad Cited,
do not disagree in any respect
with those who regard the doctrines
now being preached and practiced In
some countries as menace to every
principle of free government. We dis
agree only as to the manner and meth
cd of combating the menace. Enemies
OF liberty, enemies of religion, enemies
of the family, the Communists and
Fascists' doctrines would sweep away
the very foundation stones of Christian
civilization. They constitute the Sc
verest trial which the lust for power
and the frenzy of crime have inflicted
upon the human family. What day
passes but records some shocking de-
cree against liberty, against race or
religion, some assassination at the in
stance Of government, some purge to
quiet the cowardly fears of those in
power? Such system is itself a
declaration of war against democracy.
do not minimize what all this means
to the people of this country and all
that they cherish. But I do contend
most earnestly that the first line of
defense against such enemies is the
clear mind, the sturdy character and
the loyal heart Of the citizen. Against
these systems there is, in the last
analysis, no security, no protection,
except the security and protection
found in the contentment and happi-
ness. the prosperity and the devotion
Of the people.
know of no course we as a people
could pursue more definitely calculated
to establish totalitarian government
IN this country than by permitting
ourselves to be involved in foreign
wars. Let us consider for a moment
What it would mean if we were called
upon to wage war In some foreign
affair. To start with, we would have
q national debt Of 40 billion dollars,
taxes already so heavy and burden
some that they are discouraging and
demoralizing all lines of industry, a
heavy deficit, 13 million unemployed,
practically one-third Of our popula-
ton poorly clothed and poorly fed.
The Government would call for and
receive authority for the exercise Of
the most arbitrary power. If you
doubt that, turn with me and con-
slider q bill now pending in the Con-
gress and which has already received
the approval of q committee of the
Congress. It is called the war profits
bill-it ought to be called a bill to
cut the jugular vein of this Republic.
It Is called a National Defense Act
1t should be called the national assault
act. How perfectly it would fit into
a war situation.
r. franefarc ~ ma ,nov y>~o ~ IN a 1Ix,