Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-07-10


If we're honest we'll have to admit
that our democracy never func-
tons as such, in a crisis.
During the Civil war we resorted
to a dictatorship. So likewise did
we during the World war I. In the
recent depression and economic crisis
that followed we abandoned demo-
cratic processes-no dictator welded
greater powers than the president and
some of the chieftains of alphabetic
agencies down in Washington. When
we condemn relationships the peo-
Piles of other nations point to these
lapses in our democratic processes
and ask, "Why these?"
Thus far we have not been able
to give a satisfactory answer.
If we could sit back more often
and see ourselves as others see us
we might avoid these recurring peri
DDS of crusading fervor. Colby ana
lytical leaders abroad ask these ques-
tons:
Did democracy succ I'd in the
United States because it was right"
or because we had unlimited re-
sources, wealth and land to make it
succeed? Will it continue to func-
ton successfully after these resources
are depleted or exhausted?
And similarly they ask, has de-
81 Dr,f ot,
it is right or because the British
have supported it literally through
the exploitation of backward peo-
Piles? Take away this power of ex-
ploitation and will Britain remain a
democracy?
We're getting in a frame of mind
where questions like these may be
branded as reasonable but we should
think about them nevertheless.
What we need is crusade to
save democracy here at home instead
of worrying so much about other
peoples.
We believe in it as form of gov
eminent. We know that it is the
ideal toward which the human family
has slowly but painfully progressed
throughout the ages. 1t is the Christi
an ideal of laws, rules and regula-
tons by which nations and peoples
can live together in complex world.
But we must realize that like
Christianity, democracy cannot be
promulgated by the fire and sword.
It must come from the hearts of men
not from the mouths of cannon.
Our task is to make democracy
function so well, so soundly, so salts
factorily here at home that it will
stand out as the example and model
all thinking peoples will want to fol-
low.
Occasionally we have flashes of
inspiration and try to live up to that
ideal but they are infrequent.
We cannot have a sound democracy
when the most able and representa-
tive citizens refuse to serve in re-
sponsible public posts that make a
democracy function.
We cannot have sound democracy
when political leaders remain in Of
flee by pitting one group, faction,
clique or racial segment against an
other.
We cannot have a sound democracy
when major groups-capital, labor,
government bureaucrats-pl OF and
scheme only for themselves without
thought of the welfare of the ma
ton as whole.
We cannot have sound democracy
when thousands of citizens boast of
evading taxes instead of bearing
their fair share of the government
expenses gladly and proudly.
We cannot have a sound democra-
cy when less than 80 per cent of the
registered voters go to the polls in
most elections.
Until we can correct some of these
ills and weaknesses-and there are
many more of them-we would do
well to ponder putting our own house
in order before attempting to inflict
our form of government on others.
A crusade is needed to "Save de-
mocracy" but we must save it here
at home-then it will be safe for the
rest of the world and very possibly
it will be something they want.