Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-08-14
/ Might Be
.WrOng-BUT|
shy P. G. Strombergi

Extension of time for military
service was passed in the House
of Representatives by 203 to 202
votes. Carried by one vote
but that is democracy and the
die is cast. There has been en-
tirely too much hullabaloo over
this extension. There has u en-
entirely too much hullabaloo
about everything the Govern
ment proposes to do in connec-
ton with our defense program.
1t is high time that measures
and methods were adopted to
carry on our program in full
force without any of the unfor-
tunate and time consuming
delays.
In the United States we are
fortunate in having France as
a horrible example of the
apathetic, satisfied, overconfi-
dent, comfortable populace re-
fusing to accept seriously any
thought of danger to her very
existence. 1t might be that,
with time as our most important
ally and with the stubbornness
and courage of the Britishers as
an inspiring example, we will
escape the fate that has befallen
the French. But it will be only
the element of time and the
efficiency Of our powerful indus
trial establishments which will
save us that sad fate. There
are too many people in America
land they are not Fifth Col
umnists nor saboteurs) who are
satisfied that no danger turks
in the offing. They are con-
tent to accept all the blessings
and comforts of our democracy
without any conviction as 10 the
fact that it becomes necessary
to make sacrifices to maintain
these blessings. They refuse to
accept the present as an emer-
gency. They refuse to accept
the words and warnings of our
chosen leaders that there is real
danger. They fail to realize
that the French people today
are dying of hunger. The
French are shorn of everything
which makes for a patriotic and
liberty-loving people. They are
disarmed; they are "broke";
they are told what to do and
what not to do; they are offered
collaboration with rosy prom
ises and made to accept with
threats of imposition of more
and worse hardships. They are
truly a beaten people. If the
French nation ever energies a
first-class power it will be
through the magnanimous atti-
tude of a victorious England
backed by a strong and united
America.
The same fate will be ours
unless our citizenry, as unit,
becomes conscious of the exist
ence of a real danger. Not,
indeed, the danger Gimme
diately) of nightly bombings.
We can at least know from
whence the bombs come and do
our best to protect ourselves.
But the danger we face is the
danger from within which can
not be detected and which
gnaws at our very vitals until
we are so weakened that it is
possible to "take over" before
we realize what has happened.
Witness Norway, Denmark, Hol-
land and Belgium.
If we are to emerge from the
present world crises a strong
and virulent nation enjoying the
position of leadership which
is rightly ours we UST have
the people Of thu Sorld know
that we not only tUiH fight but
that we are ready and can fight.
There is nothing worth having
unless it is worth fighting for.
Our most precious possession is
our democratic form of govern
ment. We will have to lay aside
our old idea Of extreme toler-
ance to all and adopt, in it's
stead, national attitude Of
militant democracy. By that l
mean a democracy rooted so
deeply in the hearts and souls
Of our people that they will rec
ognize no other form Of govern
ment as fit to meet the needs of
mankind. We'll never reach