Evening star., 1940-07-17


wider front than during the last
decade.
For century and more prior to
the World War, the races of men
were moving toward the goal of
freedom and self-government. Be-
ginning with our own revolution
and little later with the French
revolution, the theory of democra-
tic institutions found acceptance in
all parts of the world. During this
century most of South America
established its freedom from Spain
and other foreign nominations un-
der republican forms of govern
ment, patterned largely after our
own. France drove the last Bona
parte from the throne and estab-
lished the French republic. China
proclaimed a republic throughout
her vast territory, and among the
far-flung elements of the British
empire a commonwealth of nations
emerged in which the people
strengthened their local institu-
tions and extended their privileges
Of independent action.
In the smaller nations of Europe,
even those which clung to the ira
ditions of monarchy, the people in
creased their power over and par
ticipation in their governments.
In Russia the Gear and all that
he represented were unhorsed in
what was supposed to be a revolu-
ton of the people. In Germany,
the Kaiser abdicated and fed his
country following the establishment
of republic. In England the
House of Lords was shorn of some
of its ancient prerogatives. In
Italy. the king became a puppet,
and in South Africa the principles
of self-government became an
established fact following the Boer
war.
Responsibility of Keeping
Freedom on This Continent.
We are charged with the re-
sponsibility of determining for our
selves whether this democracy which
we have instituted and developed
is, first, worth preserving, and, sec
ond, whether we have the courage,
the fortitude and the intelligence
to exert the effort and make the
sacrifice essential to its preserva-
ton. We must determine whether
the restoration of confidence in the
American system for which we have
labored these last eight years, after
all, was worth the effort, and
whether we are ready to announce
to all the world that, not only the
United States, but the entire West
ern Hemisphere has been dedicated
as a sanctuary for free men, and
that any effort from any outside
source to encroach upon it terri
torially, politically or by any other
form Of insidious penetration will be
met by the total impact Of all our
resources of men, money and nate
rial, until the encroachment and
those who undertake it shall have
been broken and driven back.
This does not mean that we de-
sire war. 1t does not mean that
we do not cherish peace and good
will among all nations and all races.
It does not mean that we propose
to become involved in the military
conflicts among foreign nations. 1t
does not mean that we propose or
intend to send the armed forces of
this Nation to the battlefields of
Europe or Asia for the purpose of
determining military superiority
among the nations involved.
But it does mean that we pro-
pose to see that at least one con-
tinent on this earth shall be kept
free for the exercise of the indi-
vidual and collective rights and priv
ileges of free men. It means that
we propose to hold fast to the doc
trine that the state is created for
the service Of the people and not
that the people are created for the
exploitation Of the state. For this
task we must be prepared, morally,
spiritually, physically, mechanically,
economically.
Disarmament Following
World War Recalled.
In the inept conglomoration
called the Republican platform
adopted at Philadelphia, we find
the following brilliant piece of fic-
ton:
'The Republican party stands fol
Americanisn1, preparedness and
peace. We accordingly fasten upon
the New Deal full responsibility foz