Milford chronicle., 1939-05-26

Ahe AoiioWlnB article IS reprOduc
ed by the Milford Chronicle as
thought to be carried throughout tn,
year:
WE DARE BE FREE
By Stephen F. Chadwick
National Commander The American
Legion
II there is one thing that distfn
guishes true Americanism It is a de
sire to walk in the ways of Justice
tolerance and peace, at all time:
squaring our actions by that decent
respect to the opinions of mankind
which the Signers of the Declaration
of Independence held so necessary tc
the success of the nation they were
launching on its career. We who are
the heirs of their great adventure in
democracy thank God for the deter
mination of the fathers Of the Revo-
luton to fight injustice and oppres-
sion. and pledge ourselves anew to
their aims and ideals.
AS l write this there is again the
sound of nations In commotion in
Europe. with armies on the march
and with civilian populations in alb
ject terror waiting for whatever the
morrow may bring forth. In half the
world might has become the master
of right. exalting
. the simple plan.
That they should take who have
the power.
And they should keep who can.
Once again 1t becomes apparent
that the broad oceans which sepa-
rate us from the old continents are
an insurance policy Of peace for us
and for our neighbors to the north
and south of us. Our hearts go out
in sympathy to the peoples of the
old world. for in hardly a country
from the British Isles through to
Japan can men be certain that stark
ruin will not overwhelm them in the
coming days. But 1t would be folly
for us to inject ourselves into that
welter of hates which goes back a
thousand years.
Mans inventive genius has dra-
matically contracted the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, and It has been our
good fortune to realize before war
engulfed us that isolation is no long
er a fact for us. AS of today our air.
sea and land forces are capable of
warding off any conceivable attack
across either ocean. but tomorrow is
another day. and 1t is good to know
that steps are being taken by the
various establishments to keep our
offensive and defensive strength more
than adequate to the strain that may
be put upon them. We dare not risk
even the smallest chance in our
scheme of national defense.
The American Legion is proud to
have been in the forefront of the en- !
deavor to give our people the pro-
lection from outside attack to which
they are entitled. That battle is in
process of being won. for events
across the seas have so highlighted
the situation that even the commun-
lists in our midst have seen the light
and are screaming for collective Sc
curity'' against the nazi and fascist
brands of totalitarianism. Collective
security to a communist or one OF
their fellow travellers means a uni
versal blood purge. followed by a
dictatorship of the pro-
having its center in Mos
COW.
But the American people are not
going to be taken in by that specious
plea. We remember how the same
people tried to embroil us in the
Spanish civil war. and how under
heir auspices hundreds OF misguid-
ID and subverted American young
,ters lost their lives. Our defense
must be always for America and for
he liberties of our people. a defense
lor peace. We can walk the way OF
peace alone If need be.
collective security" that would
lie us to the soviet philosophy would
,e indeed the kiss of death to all we
.old dear. !
There are problems aplenty for us I
O solve right here at home, without
,enturing forth to fight other ma {
ions battles. I have mentioned the
fight for an adequate and I
ealistic national defense. AS part !
Il our contribution to that great end {
/ IS vitality necessary that we Am S
ricans defeat the Ludlow and other I
which would take from \
congress the power to declare war /
nd rest the decision In a referen- '
um OF the whole American people. 7
ust at this time when we must be G
nited as never before to withstand
he power of swollen Little Caesars s
Tho hate us and aim TO destroy us. &"
his proposal again raises It's un- o
linking and sentimental head. / 2
SIX YOU, men and women of the Leg il
IN and its associated bodies. to let a
our Congressmen and Senators e
now that you regard these referen- C
um proposals as sta bin the back "
I our beloved country. an unreason- v
,x surrender of the protection OF Il
le liberties designed for us by our Il
Ithers. Il
The dictators have taken leaf out II
the book of ancient tyrants with ri
leir policy OF divide-and-rule. They m
ave got away with II in Central W
urope. Minions Of the two opposing C,
,taIitarian philosophers would love I
- .kokkor .rr x.yflf 80 Aafonoo