Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-02-21
PEOPLE'SCOLUMN
February 5, 1941

Worcester Democrat:
I am happy to learn of the inter-
est you and your readers are taking
in carrying forward the principles
and ideals of our government and to
know of your interest in the work
of the National Committee to Uphold
Constitutional Government, which is
now starting it's fifth year.
From all parts of the United
States we are getting expressions
of like import. I think the Ameri-
can people have definitely come to
the conclusion that the old party
labels which separated them in the
days gone by are no longer an in
telligent reason for dividing. AS l
see it, the real division today is be-
tween those who believe in constitu-
tional government and free enter
prise, as against the adherents of an
authoritarian form of government,
whether they call themselves COM
munists, fascists, democrats or re-
publicans. In 1887 in the Federalist
Papers the Constitution of the Uni
ted States was sold to the American
people. 1t was done, not to win an
election, nor to put anybody on the
pay roll. It was done simply to
bring a strong free government to
birth. 1t was the most successful
advertising campaign ever conducted
in reference to a philosophy of gov
eminent. But that was 1853 years
ago. Since then we have taken this
great legacy of our fathers for grant
ed. 1t is like advertising Ivory Soap
once in century and a half. Since
then, beginning in 1848, with Karl
Marx and his followers, down to Stall
in and Hitler, the enemies of the
things for which Washington, Jeffer-
son, Hamilton, Franklin and Lincoln
stood have been busily at work. They
work while we sleep.
The time has come for the men
and women of today to perform a
task as significant to our posterity
as the work done by our forefathers
has been to us. 1 have been too long
in politics to believe in miracles, but
I do believe in work. If Hitler can
create ideologies we can, not new
theology, but a spiritual renaissance
Of concepts of government, which not
on blueprint but on the proving
ground of human experience have de-
monstrated their vitality and benefit
cence for five generations.
AS Daniel Webster said,
"Let us develop the resources of
our land, call forth it's powers,
build up its institutions, promote
all it's great interests, and see
whether we also, in our day and
generation, may not perform some
thing worthy to be remembered"
In my judgment this country is
ripe to see happen and make hap
pen what Abraham Lincoln called a
'new birth of freedom" 1 think it
can be done on a nationwide scale.
It has got to be done in such a way
and under such sponsorship that it
will reach into the Deep South as well
as the North, and to each section of
the country. It should be done by an
organization that seeks nothing from
the government, that Graves no pow
ers and is fearful of no penalties.
Many efforts have been made along
this line, splendid in themselves, but
with minimum results. because they
were sponsored either by trade as
ISOLATION that is suspected of having
it's own sheep to shear, or by a party
organization suspected Of promoting
political ambitions.
Karl Marx said, workers of the
world, unite" We must say, Gre
publicans and Democrats, unite" and
by that I mean the followers of JEFF
ferson and Lincoln; and by that I
mean also the workers, the humblest
citizen, the poorest boy, shall realize
that his greatest chance for happi-
ness and security and opportunity;
for the privilege of being a human
being, and not a species of cattle to
be ordered about by those who have
the whips of authority and the en-
blems of power, lies in reconsecration
to this great republic.
Our Committee defends constitu-
tional government and free enter
prise. We do not permit ourselves to
be used for causes or principles out
side of these broad concepts. AL
though actually the old democratic
party and perhaps the old republican
party have disappeared along the line
of the new division arising from the
realities of today, nevertheless, SO
long as these emblems persist we are
going to urge democrats and repub-