Evening star., 1939-09-16

lives, even II by some unlikely
chance we do not pass on another
Polish Corridor to them. Democracy
itself may not survive. If we enter
fighting for democracy abroad, we
may end by losing 1t at home.
Little to Be Gained.
America has little to gain by tax
Ing part in another European war.
We must not be misguided by this
foreign propaganda to the effect that
our frontiers lie in Europe. One
need only glance at a map to see
where our true frontiers lie. What
more could we ask than the At
lantic Ocean on the east and the
Pacific on the west? No, our in
terests in Europe need not be from
the standpoint of defense. Our own
natural frontiers are enough for
that. If we extend them to the
center Of Europe we might as well
extend them around the earth. An
ocean is formidable barrier even
for modern aircraft. Our safety
does not lie in fighting European
wars. 1t lies in our internal
strength, in the character of the
American people and of American
institutions. AS long as we maintain
an Army, Navy and an air force
worthy of the name, as long as
America does not decay within, we
need fear no invasion of this coun-
try.
Again address those among you
who agree with this stand. Our
future and our childrens future
depends upon the action we take.
1t is essential to think clearly and
to act quickly in the days which
are to come. We will be deluged
with propaganda, both foreign and
domestic-some obvious, some in
Sidious. Much of our news is al
ready colored. Every incident and
every accident will be seized upon
to influence us. And in a modern
war there are bound to be plenty
of both. We must not only inquire
about the writer and the speaker
about his personal interests and his
nationality, but we must ask who
owns and who influences the news
paper, the news picture and the
radio station. If our people know
the truth, if they are fully and ac-
curately informed, if they are not
misled by propaganda, this country
is not likely to enter the war now
going on in Europe.
Hope Lies in America.
And If Europe is again Frustrated
by war, as she has been so often
in the past, then the greatest hope
for our western civilization lies in
America. BY staying out of war
ourselves We may even bring peace
to Europe more quickly Let us
look TO our own defenses and to
our own character. If We attend
to them we have no need to fear
what happens elsewhere If we do
not attend to them nothing can
save us.
If war brings more Dark Ages to
Europe We can better preserve those
things which we love and which
We mourn the passing of in Europe
today by preserving them here, by
strengthening them here, rather
than by hurting ourselves thought
lessly to their defense over there
and thus destroying all in the con-
flagragtion. The German genius
for science and organization, the
English genius for government and
commerce, the French genius for
living and the understanding of
life-they must not 60 down here
as we'll as on the other side. Here
in America they can be blended to
form the greatest genius of all.
The gift of civilized life must
still be carried on. 1t is more i'm
portant than the sympa thies, the
friendships, the desires of any sim
gle generation. This is the test be-
fore America now. This is the
challenge-to carry on western civ
ilization.