The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-05-18
Politics
ID
Passing


n the keynote address Of Senator
panaher at the Republican state
convention this week 10 any sample
" TIE campaign that the q. o. p.
plans 10 wage nationally this sum.
iner and fall, II means that the par.
~ viii be simply avoiding most Of
the Issues. For q man whose record
at washington has won him esteem
nnicng members Of both parties and
neutral newspaperimen on the
scene, II was Q weak speech, q typ
Zeal campaign address that was
filled with high sounding phrases
and vigorous denunciation Of the
opposition but itself offering moth
ing constructive.
II d easy 70 criticize, 70 attack,
~ dld Senator Danaher; Il Is
another and more statesmAnllke
feat 10 outline q better course Of
conduct that could be followed.
In choosing 70 center his attack
On President Rooeevelts foreign
policy, the junior senator from this
stats blunted his lance on what
even most Of his fellow. Republic
cans admit Is the strongest section
~ the Roosevelt armor. Republican
newspapers and columnists who
have opposed many New Deal pol
loies are In large proportion strong.
~ behind the administrations
handling Of foreign affairs.
when Senator Danaher charges
that che Administrations policy
toward foreign nations has re-
suited In "internatfonalism," II
10 difficult 10 understand what
he means. II he means that II has
consisted Of meddllng In the do
nnestlc affairs Of foreign nations
o. u m attempt 10 push this
country along the road TO war, the
mass 81 voters will tell him and
the Republican party that he h
Wfeng, n he means that II has
consisted Of trying 70 establish a
fPsternity among nations through
reciprocal trade agreements, Of
attempts 10 halt aggression and
oppression BY appeals TO morality,
ard Of o sincere campaign 20 pre-
serve, and later 20 restore, peace,
then most average Americans win
teli him that he 10 far nearer che
truth.
The delegates at the convention
Applauded Senator Danaher when
he expressed the conviction that the
United States could stay out Of the
European war; convention OF
Democrats would have applauded
him just as strongly, for peace 10
something that we oil want 10 keep.
9here was likewise applause
fFtsM she party men and women
when Mr.. DanaheF Assalled the
foreign policy Of the President,
but there must have been uneas-
iiseas In the minds OF many OF
tkem o. 10 che weakness Of such
O stand. The senator proposed
no better foreign policy Of his
Owu, and his general charges were
uiicenvincing.
u would DO interesting 10 know
WHISTLER Senator Danaher wrote
tho keynote address himself or
whether II was prepared for him by
the Republican national committees
publicity headquarters. II he wrote
d himself II may be that the party
nationally this fall will campaign
on more real issues; II the speech
came from national headquarters u
Is hard TO see the logic OF O cam
paie1 In which the party would fol-
low such lines as Mr.. Danaher laid
down.
The moments through which We
are new living are among the
most important IN the worlds
history events that students will
be pouring over hundreds Of
years frem now IN civilization
can stay out Of the abyss Of bar
baFism toward which u In being
pushed) are passing before us at
such dizzy speed that we have not
time 70 comprehend them. We can
Gee, through che nssse, that on
this country will rest much OF the
hope for preservation Of the free
dom Of nations and peoples and
ideas for which mankind has
striven.
!. whichever side wins, America
must play one OF the most impor-
liant roles In the readjustments that
Will inevitably follow. II Is @ great
responsibility for O nation 10 shoul-
I derl II Is o responsibility for which
we must prepare. Times like those
That lie ahead will make II neces-
yary for partisanship 10 be placed
- much aside as possible and for
I've people Of the nation TO unite
behind those they have chosen Is
fheir leaders.
An encouraging sign that this
can be- done B the whole. hearted
endorsement given by leaders Of
both parties 70 the Presidents
billion dollar defense program.
National unity Of this kind does
nee mean that we must accept
without debate Che plans Of our
leaders, or that criticism
should be stifled; II does
mean that once the majority
have agreed on . course, al the
nation wan support Il unselfishly
ane thoroughly.
As Of today 1t appears that the
people are overwhelmingly behind
The President The almost complete
sinanifnity Of enthusiasm with which
his message was received In every
quarter made Senator Danaher's
remarks seem childishly picayune
and purely political.
Is 10 too much 10 hope that the
cAxabaign ahead might be one
without Petty pickering and per-