The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-01-08
The Years of the Locust

The FEARS or tne AOCuSt
One of the most eventful decades in
modern history ended Just recently. 1t IS
not too late vet to look at 1t in retrospect.
And this nation enters new decade our
ing which, unless all signs are wrong, It's
people must face and grapple with PROB
lens. issues and responsibilities OF the
most far-reaching character.
The 1905 will be known to the histor-
ians of the future as the years OF one OF
the greatest and longest depressions this
or any other nation ever experienced.
They will be known as years Of expert
Ynent, of trial and error, of the weighing
OF our old values and our old traditions.
And they will be known too as years IN
which the democratic process was con-
sistently attacked by some OF those who
called themselves its friends, as well as
by those who were Its frankly avoWed
enemies.
From the international point OF view,
the tragic '30's came to cynically fitting
end In that most CHASTITY and unneces-
sary of events-a war which embraces
much Of the world. In nation after ma
ton the arts Of peace have Of necessity
been put aside, to the end that war may
be prosecuted to the utmost. And war
destroys more than men and materials
anc machines and economies and states.
It destroys these essential liberties for
which men have fought and died IN holy
causes ever since the world we know be-
gan. It destroys those spiritual values
which are at the root OF all artistic, Gull
tural and humanitarian achievement. II
has been truly said that IN modern war
there can be no victors-there are only
kRaax
tary on the times in which we live that
those nations which are fighting this war
Ia the name Of threatened democracy,
have been forced to use the methods OF
the dictators In order to meet the enemy
on Its own totalitarian terms.
The greatest blessing which this nation
possesses today Is Its physical remoteness
from the conflict abroad. That Is a po-
sition enjoyed by no other OF the worlds
major powers. There Is profound wisdom
in the attitude OF the great majority OF
the American people who say, IN effect
I'VE can keep out OF War-and we Will
keep out of war" There Is no war party
in this country-no responsible states
man urges our participation. We can all
feel deep and abiding thankfulness that
this Is so. Never before was 1t so import
ant that we Americans keep our heads, IN
order that we may also keep our liberties.
For should this country become involved
In war. democracy would vanish here, as
swiftly and as surely as 1t has vanished
abroad.
Turning to our own internal pr oblems,
our task Is great The gratifying I'M
provement that has recently taken place
throughout our economic structure must
not be allowed 10 blind US to the unpleas-
ant truth that not one Of those issues
which we were forced to face at the start
Of depression has been solved. Most OF
them have become more complicated and
difficult. The national debt, despite the
heaviest tax load In our peace-tine his
tory, has nearly trebled In the past decade
and will soon reach the present legal limit
Of $45 600, 000 900. The immense exper-
ditures for relief continue, even though
business has much improved and unem-
ployment has consequently been reduced.
The agricultural situation, In spite OF a
long series Of extremely expensive farm
relief" measures, remains tangled and
unsatisfactory.
On top Of that, there Is still strong
clique high In government whose atti-
tude toward business can be described
only as strongly inimical This Is the
group which backs any and all measures
designed to put government into taX-sub-
sidized competition with heavily taxed
private terprise-which stays awake
nights thinking up new ways OF saddling
business with restrictive laws and punt
tive class taxes-which encourages labor
excuses to the full-and which does all
In It's power to prevent stability and to
keep chaos and uncertainty In the saddle.
It Is a remarkable tribute to the courage
and staying power Of American business
that 1t has managed to progress as much
as It has when confronted with such Lam
dicaps.
Summing up, we have plenty to do at
home during the years that stretch ahead.
The current Congress and those which
follow have their work cut out for them
but satisfactory results will be secured
only If the people as O whole are awake
and watchful, are conscious OF their
needs, are deeply aware OF their American
heritage and way Of life. For In spite OF
the urproven claim Of extremists, our
only real progress has come from produc-
tive, employing industry, working under
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