Montana labor news., 1939-11-23
DEMOCRACY AND
PEACE
Continued from Page 81

because of their official positions to
bring about a declaration Of war
why not make it mandatory that
they be the first to go? 1t is almost
a truism in this country of ours that
we would never go to wal if those
in responsible official positions had
to do the fighting themselves in
stead of sitting in comfortable Of
fices, uttering platitudes, and cheer
ing the population on.
War has no place in our present
system in America. We all desire,
under the supervision of our own
democratic government, to 60 on
living like normal Americans in
past generations have done: to work,
to marry, and to raise our children
in comfort and peace. We want to
find an answer for our present UNI
employment problem. We want an
ultimate prosperity and security.
This is u modest and earnest ap-
peal and our government must not
fail us.
In these days of difficulty we
must think of our duty to ourselves
and to the memory of those who
have died for their country. We
must stop this talk that we will be
drawn into a European war, that
we cannot avoid it, that our par
ticipation is inevitable. If we say
it often enough-if this fatalistic
talk goes on-we will become in
volved. The position of a nation is
largely what that nation thinks its
position is.
Instead of talking is though things
were beyond our control, we should
stress the fact that we can stay out,
that we should stay out, that we
must stay out and begin at once
the devising of constructive mea-
sures to keep us out.
We desire nothing that is selfish
or cowardly. We are willing to risk
our all in a real cause but let it be
an American cause. This is no time
for any kind of action except united
action. America must stand as a
unit if American ideals are to be
preserved. The freedom that we in
this country enjoy is the result of
the labors of many patriots in the
past. The American nation is the
triumph of the men and women who
fought for the principles upon which
it is founded. The America of the
future will similarly bear the marks
of the political and economic work
manship of the present generation.
Let us hope that those who follow
us can look back upon our actions
with pride and continue the enjoy
ment of the democratic practices
which are ours today.
How different these principles of
democracy which characterizes us
are from the principles of hatred
and distrust SO prevalent through
out the world today. When I think
of our Constitution and our Bill of
Rights I thank God that He has
seer fit to establish a country such
as ours.
In other countries are people who
live, yes, but under what circum-
stances. They are regimented and
told what to do and what not to do.
Freedom, equality, and justice are
meaningless words to them. They
aren't smiling, or friendly but
rather they are grim and fearful
because they know not what the
morrow has in store for them. The
law under which they live is the
law of the dictator not the law of
the people. Free gatherings are
practically unknown and massed
assemblages-unless on order-are
prohibited. We are indeed fortunate
to live under a flag and in a coun-
try such as ours where we can prac-
tice what we preach; where we can
disagree but still remain friends;
where there are no concentration
camps, where no n is liquidated,
and where we have complete re-
ligious tolerance.
The really fine thing about us is
that we're just American. There are
no distinctions among us because
we practice equality as we preach
it. There is no lack of harmony be-
cause we believe in cooperation.
This is necessary if any country is
to survive and grow. 1t was har-
mony, cooperation, and teamwork
which brought into being this great
nation. America will always be the
symbol of the united efforts put
forth by the different people who
combined to bring it into people.
Out of this assimilation of peoples
from various countries of the world
evolved Democracy as we have it
today. Our comrades of the World
War gave their lives to preserve
this democracy. Let us honor them
today and in their memory keep
alive the fires of freedom, justice
and equality, and let us, as real
Americans, dedicate ourselves to
peace in 1899.
Gov. Luren d. Dickinson of Michi-