Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-07-18
History Is Made

American history. yes even WOllu
history, WAS made at Chicago early
today. Precedent was thrown to the
winds. tradition was trampled under
loot and fears Of damage to free
democratic institutions went out the
window. Under the party lash
henceforth the captains and !ieuten-
ants and the rank and file will march
up and down the country shouting
and procIaimiug that it matters not
at all how many times man is
president of the United States, SO
long as he is their man.
We do not now and have never
thought that the United States is in
the midst Of crisis OF emergency
that juStifieS abandonment OF policy
that has more than once proved its
real worth as a safeguard for the
liberties OF 4 free people. There i
more than one man in this country
who is qualified to hold the highest
office in the gift Of citizens. The
Democratic party has more than
one: it has several
The reason, pure and simple, why
the President was given third term
nomination is that convention dele
gates believed him to be the best
vote-getter they had, and that con-
tinuance Of the jobs of many ana
hopes for jobs by many others coule
best be assured by the course tina;
was taken. They also must have
felt that a third term was what the
President wanted, and that those
who supported it would have the
best chances in the palaces Of the
mighty when SupplicationS were re-
newed or begun for the first time in
the ardent graSping for place at
the pie counter.
There never was any doubt in
many minds that the convention
would do what it has done. There
never was. either. any doubt in the
same minds that the PreSIS-ht want
ed and would accept the third term
when it was rendered, as the dele
gates dared not do otherwise. Had
they taken Mr. Roosevelt at his
word Tuesday night and dropped
him to nominate some one else he
would have been the most surprised
and disappointed man in the United
States. 1t would be our guess that
the convention knew that.
The Roosevelt strategy worked
perfectly, as it usually does. The
setting developed completely. as it
was intended TO do. The President
can now go to the country and say
that he told the convention he had
not sought, did not seek, has never
desired and does not now desire and
does not want a third term; that
it was thrust upon him; that he was
drafted and that he consented us
Il patriotic act. He won't remind
the country, however. what it al
ready knows. that IN his message to
the convention he was careful not to
say he would not accept if nUmi-
mated and would not serve if elected
At least it cannot be said the
country was taken by surprise. The
build-up has been in process long
enough that sufficient warning had
been had far in advance Of the
gathering of the clans at Chicago.
Every one who took the trouble to
know, did know what was in
prospect, even was almost d dead
certainty. And. that prospect and
certainty is now real.
For the first time in its lG4 years
of proud and glorious history, the
country has seen great political
party nominate d man for Il third
term as President and has seen him
accept. If this abandonment Of that
sacred tradition leads ultimately to
destruction, or even abridgemCnt, Of
individual rights and liberties; if it
turns the office of president into that
of dictator; if it establishes 4 Sue
ceSsion to rulership in this nation;
if it increases defiance from the
White House toward opponents OF
its policies; if it does all these and
more the Democratic party must