Evening star., 1938-03-29

right OF the citizen, as those rights
have been known and enjoyed, would
be subject to the arbitrary power Of
one man. If the bill were enacted
into law we would have as complete
totalitarian state in many respects
as they have in Germany and Italy.
It is astounding that we have reached
point in constitutional thought
when such a bill would even be pro-
posed. But 1t is war measure, and,
II war should come, it would likely be
overwhelmingly passed.
But this Is what war means under
present economic conditions, especially
so. War Is always the eternal enemy
OF democracy. the friend of Com
munism and the father of Fascism.
Yet. those who would drag us into all
foreign controversies are the friends
OF just such measures as above re-
ferred to. While accentuating our
supposed duties abroad, they would
undermine and destroy our liberty as
a people at home. Those who talk
so glibly about our duty to crush
Nazi-ism in Europe, If they should
nave their way, would plant the brutal
thing in the very heart Of the Ameri-
can Republic.
What Mad Folly"
When we look about us and witness
the utter degradation to which once
strong, proud peoples have been re-
duced, the comforts and the security
OF home gone, freedom of worship
denied, the right to be heard in de-
fense OF limb, liberty or life utterly
unknown, no free, unchallenged life
anywhere or in any respect, and then
contemplate the guarantees of the
Great Charter and what they mean
to the people, the sacred traditions
against which they are buttressed,
what mad folly it is to offer to strike
all these down In the name of ma
tional defense! 1t is an expression
OF that abnormal, almost insane, off,
clal egotism now expressing and tor
turing the life of peoples everywhere,
which proceeds upon the theory that
a few officials, temporarily and often
through political accident in power. are
wiser than the accumulated intellect
OF all the people.
History seems to record that if a
people once loses that feeling toward
their government, which is hard to de-
f1ne yet easily recognized and which
has been part of the life of every
great people, mingling, as it were, of
a sense of reverence with a spirit of
comradeship, something essentially di-
vine and yet something of which the
people are a part-this once lost, can
ne:er be restored. When government
and country mean no more than some-
thing with which to experiment on
the one hand and something to exploit
on the other hand, the nation has al
ready reached the meridian of its
greatness. And if any such measure as
the foregoing should ever receive the
approval Of the American people, it
would be conclusive proof that they
were no longer fit for liberty.
Coming back to the main subject
our foreign policy. 1t is urged that,
While alliances may be Objectionable,
we should cooperate. Cooperation, it
Is said. is the law of life. the true spirit
OF humanity, and failing to Cooperate
we will, as nation, become ostracized
and finally fall into spiritual, moral
and physical decay. With whom are
we going to Cooperate? And is that
cooperation to be by authority and
approval of the people or an official
who may be in the place Of power?
Ihere were those in this country who
urged earnestly that we Cooperate
with Mr.. Eden in his policy of refus-
ing to negotiate with the dictators, and
II necessary, urged whipping the die
tators. But they did not wish to CO.
operate with Mr.. Chamberlain's policy
OF negotiation. The former co-opera-
ton might have led us into war; the
latter would lead us into close asso-
citation with Hitler and Mussolini.
Which Course to Follow?
There are those who would have had
us cooperate with Great Britain when
she seemed ready to engage in war
with Japan. But what would be our
policy Of cooperation when it should
appear that Great Britain may again
join hands with Japan. recognize her
authority over North China and be-
come her permanent ally? Shall we
cooperate with Great Britain if she
concludes to fight for the German colo-
MES? If We cooperate with France.
republic, against Germany. shall we
be content to cooperate with Russia.
Frances close ally? This policy of
cooperation is rather difficult to ap-
ply to practical purposes. Either we
must accept the policies as established
by other countries or the people of the
United States would become mere
playthings of the likes and dislikes of
those who might be in power.
We would be interested, also. I
should think, in the matter of CO.
operation to know just how policies
are formed upon the part of those
with whom we should Cooperate and
now wars are made. It is conceivable
that If the people in those countries
had anything to say about peace or war
it might be basis for cooperation,
For, venture to believe, there would
be very few wars. But I invite your
attention as to how wars are made in
Europe from very high authority. a
most conservative but also intelligent
authority. An editorial appearing in
the London Times some time ago said ::
| Who, then, makes war? The answer
is to be found in the chancelleries of
Europe among the men who have too
long played with human lives as pawns
in game of chess, who have become
enmeshed in formulas and the jareon
OF diplomacy that they have ceased to
be conscious of the poignant realities
with which they trif1e. And thus will
war continue to be made until the
great masses who are the sport Of
professional schemers and dreamers
say the word which shall bring. not
eternal peace, for that is impossible,
but determination that wars shall
be fought only in q Just and righteous