Evening star., 1939-01-11

religion, de- -
mocracy and in DA''o Lawrence
ternational good faith" require a
united defense, 1t will be recalled
that he significantly declared ito
save one, we must make up our
minds to save all" because they are
"all the same fight"
Never before has a president
linked religion to democracy as a
; thing worth fighting for with our
national power, and that is why the
subject is still uppermost In CONVEX
sation and comment here, notwith-
standing the fact that a week has
gone by since the message was
actually delivered.
The spiritual note in public af-
fairs, to be sure, has been rising
perceptibly Of late, so the Presidents S
emphasis is opportune, but it is also
q fact that what the totalitarian
, states like Russia, Germany and
Italy have been doing to undermine
religious practices and religious
worship has created in America a
deep-seated feeling Of concern lest
the Indifference toward God which
motivates Fascism and Communism
spread to America.
Has Quickened Americas Heart.
The basic point is what the de-
f1ance of religious tenets has done
to the Russian and German and
Italian governments in raising the
banner of physical force as the su-
preme purpose Of the state itself.
America, of course, is not going to
war on such abstract questions, but
America is being asked neverthe-
less by the President to understand
the forces which have bred such
barbaric policies of anti-religion
abroad.
Few people here would deny that
the disintegration of a democracy
can be begun by defiance of religion,
for 1t is well understood that, when
fair play and individual liberty,
which are so interviewer with demo-
cratic institutions, are broken down,
irreligion sets in.
1t Is nevertheless novel to find
public policy being shaped by con-
siderations as broad as these, and
the consensus here is that Mr.
Roosevelt has quickened the heart
of the American people with his re-
statement of the democratic faith.
Motivation Of Good Government.
There is something more import
ant, however, than mere restate-
ment of democratic doctrine as an
integral part of national defense
purposes for the benefit of foreign
peoples or our own. It is the fact
that attention begins to be placed
on religion as an inspiration in pub
lie life itself Clearly, If religion is
the source of democracy in an in
ternational picture, such as we are
witnessing today. it is even more so
when the domestic picture is viewed.
Those words, social responsible
ty,' which have been used again
and again in public addresses to
denote the scope of social and eco
nomic legislation, take on a new
meaning nowadays when the Presi-
dent himself speaks Of religious feel
Ing as a central part of our national
life. Out Of religious thinking, ire
spective of creed or race or class,
often comes the motivation of good
government. Often, on the other
hand, in the compromises of party
= politics or in the individual ambi-
tions of persons who want to be
elected, or who want to be reelected,
the tenets of religious faith are cast
aside or at least neglected, and the
principles Of common honesty and
unselfishness, which are basic in the
Christian faith, are ignored.
Will Remain a Conversation Topic.
Again and again some political
leaders console themselves with the
notion that politics is kind Of
game in which the moral code can
be different from that which is sup
posed to prevail outside of public
life. 1t is here that a return to
religion Is most needed, and there
are signs that such revival, quietly
and unostentatiously, is beginning
here, as it Is in Great Britain.
What the President said may
have referred to the broad inter-
national aspects of democracy's fight
for self preservation, but it also ap-
plies with equal force to the need
for changing the personal lives Of
persons in positions of responsibility
in Government and business, in
fact throughout those key tnstitu-
tions which from day to day make
Henocracv function
Certainly, with compulsion the
underlying force of Fascism and
Communism, volition becomes the
only parallel force in democracy,
and, to induce the right sort of
voluntary action for the common
good, the place that religion occu-
pies will tend to become more and
more vital in democracy like ours
That's why the Presidents message
will remain a topic Of conversation
hereabouts for months if not years
to come.
(copyright. 198e.)