Evening star., 1940-11-05

VII lllc SIOulluo tlldI VIC dlC 4uSCo
with an international crisis-that
argument is false and dangerous
one. To thrust aside that tradi-
tion is to assume that only one
man has the ability to take us
through recurring emergencies.
That means that democracy must
surrender in the face of any
trouble. 1t means that whenever
our Government says 1t sees an
emergency, we must forego our
democratic institutions until the
Government is pleased to return
them to us.
Let us remember that dictator
ship always begins by asking the
people to give up some law or ira
dition for some special reason.
The reason given may even seem
logical. The motives behind it
may be honorable and sincere.
But if you give in to such rea-
sons, little by little the structure
of democracy is taken away from
you without your realizing it.
There is still another way by
which democracy may be weak
ened from within, and that is by
disregarding ones conscience. In
the United States our voting is
absolutely secret. There is no
possible way for any one to find
out how you vote. No one knows
that, save you and your God.
Voting is a solemn act. Don't
vote the way some one tells you
to vote. Don't let any one high
pressure you. If democracy is to
live in America y0u must vote
the way you believe. I say this
to you no matter which way you
may choose to vote.
Remember also, that you can
vote any way you please, no mat
ter in what party you ale reg
istered. Democrats, for instance,
can vote our ticket Millions
upon millions of them are eoing
to do So
I want to take this opportunity
especially to thank those Demo-
Gratis who are supporting me so
actively, and with such a fine
understanding of the real prin-
cipleS of democracy. Your own
party has been kidnapped by a few
men who have accumulated too
much personal power We well
come you to our crusade We be-
ieve in the two-party system. In
joining with us to fight the New
Deal kidnapers you are strength
ening your own party by preserv-
ing your form of government.
Britain, in Great Crisis.
Changed Her Government.
Those are some of the reasons
why tomorrow is such an impor-
tant day. When you wake up to-
morrow, think of what has peen
going on in the rest of the world.
We have seen the democracies
grow weak, so that they could rot
resist their enemies. Oniv Eng
land has been able to defend her
self. And remember how she has
defended herself. faced with her
great crisis, she changed her gov
ernment, Neville Chamberlain,
who was Prime Minister, had had
the most experience in govern
ment and foreign affairs. Yet
the people of England deliberately
chose new government because
they wanted strong govern
ment, a strong England. They
knew that efficiency was more
important than mere experience.
The time to stop this process
of breaking down democracy is in
the beginning. That point was
passed long ago in this country.
If to the terrible concentration
of power in the hands of the third
term candidate and the subver-
sion of the other departments of
government, there is to be added
continual tenure of office, then
the last step in the destruction
of our democracy has been taken.
No argument can justify it. No
one man, much less one with a
record of failure, can reasonably
be regarded as the sole instru-
ment of that wisdom which
warned us to put not our trust
in princes"
1t will always be found that
the free exercise of our demo-
cratic institutions strengthens us
it does not weaken us. This
has always been true. And it is
true today.
People of America, I want to
close this campaign without bit
terness. There has been no bit
terness in my heart, and there
is none now. There must be none
in your hearts, either. There Is
no place for bitterness or hate in
America.
Has Made No COMMITMENTS,
No Offers of Cabinet Posts.
Especially during the last few
days, the opposition seeking to
obscure the issues, has attacked
me with smear campaign de-
signed to make you question my
record and my motives. I have
answered everything I thought
worthy of an answer.
I know that you will uphold
the standards of democracy-the
standards of fair-play, honest de-
bate, and open covenants.
I tell you truthfully that I
stand before you tonight without
any commitments or deals. I
have made no cabinet offers to
anyone. have no secret under
standings. And I have author
lied no man to discuss commit
ments or understandings in my
name. Those who have joined
our cause have come in on ex-
actly the same basis as all of you
because they believed in it.
America has given birth to
many great men, but none greater
than George Washington, Robert
E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln.
These men all had one quality in
common-a quality of magma
nimity of charity and of toler-
ance.
Lincoln said: with malice to-