Evening star., 1940-06-17
Calls for Clear Thought
In Emergency.

To the Editor of The Star:
Recent radio and round table discus
sions, as we'll as many other public utter
ances regarding our preparedness and
foreign aid policies, afford an alarming
picture of the near hysteria prevailing
among lawmakers, political leaders and
laymen
While heretofore these programs and
utterances were characterized by instruc-
tive discussions of matters of public con.
Germ, many Of them are now disintegrat-
ing into personalities, heated statements
and non-informative arguments. These
cross-section debates bring home forcibly
the dangerous lack of clear -headed think
ing which abounds. And this at a time
when clarity of vision and expression is
OF paramount Importance to American
institutions.
America is the last great lighthouse of
sanity and reason. If its people fully
appreciate and value the priceless hertz
age OF liberty under constitutional gov
eminent which they enjoy, they must
quickly awaken to their responsibility as
individuals. 1t is the solemn duty of
each citizen by word, deed and ballot to
zealously safeguard this Nation from the
ravishments abroad which are now oc-
curing with stunning rapidity. It be-
comes the sacred obligation of each in
dividual here to place in power only those
best qualified by experience, ability,
patriotism and proved trustworthiness to
steer our course safely through the rapid
ly submerging wrecks of civilization
This mission of salvation must not be
delegated thoughtlessly to any one man
or group Of men. 1t must be accom-
plished by the reasoned judgment of each
individual, collectively expressed in their
chosen leadership.
This leadership should be actuated by
unself1sh devotion to the preservation,
intact. OF national and individual liberty.
1t should seek only such additional pow
ers as may become absolutely necessary
to the furthermce of national interests.
This leadership should inspire supreme
confidence that any essential grant of
extraordinary powers will be cheerfully
relinquished when an emergency ceases
This leadership should weld America
again into a classless people who stand
together as one. Before such righteous
might, right will prevail.
June IL. EDISON w. BRIGGS.
Would Buy Islands
From Allies.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Despite the fact that great majority
of our citizens do not wish this country
to participate in the present European
war, their actions in querying, when
will we get in?," if continued, may be
taken advantage of by organized groups
Of Allied propagandists with a view to
making the general public more certain
that involvement in the war Is inevitable
and so help in forcing us into the war.
Many well-known personages, who
speak for small minority, advocate
that we give or lend, the Allies money
with which they may purchase military
supplies from us.
I would be in favor of giving them the
money that they must have, but only In
exchange for something that they have
that is necessary for our own defense,
namely, their possessions in this Hemi-
sphere.
This does not necessarily mean the
purchase Of all Of these possessions by
the United States.
If Germany should win this war And
acquire these possessions at peace
table, any method used by the United