Evening star., 1941-10-21

into their hands. We have talked
and talked and aired our contrary
views while the vital hours slipped
away. Each petty strategist and
embryo statesman or military genius
has shouted his views until America
has seemed at times like a cackling
barnyard. We prize our constitu-
tional freedom of speech and the
NaZis have turned our boasted virtue
against us.
Time for Talking Past.
The time for talking is past. The
time for action has been with us
long. 1t, too, will pass.
We face the greatest danger that
has ever confronted the Republic.
We must put forth the greatest ef-
fort of all our history. We have the
strength of giant, but We have
moved with the speed of a sluggard.
We have accomplished great things
for our defense, but they are insig-
nitlcant in comparison with what we
might have done
Speed is the essence of modern
war, yet we have moved with tagging
steps. Speed is one secret of Hitler's
success. We have been masters of
speed in time of peace, why should
We abandon it in time of peril?
We have chosen our course. We
have determined that Hitler must
be stopped in Europe We have re-
solved that England shall not fall
But the arguments go on without
end. Once decision has been made
the debate should end. A town
meeting of the United States can
not precede every step in our prep
aration for our own security.
We have leaders or our own chooS-
ing. Give them a chance to lead.
We have a head to all our defense
efforts in the President OF the United
States. He is entitled to our sup
port. We should give it with all our
hearts. All we have and are is at
stake. Yet selfish interests clamor
for the appointment of a co-ordina-
tor of defense
Time for Sacrifice and Unity.
This is no time for SelfshnesS. 1t
is time for sacrifice 1t is a time
for unity of purpose. We have 130-
100000 people who should be willing
to give their all to the salvation of
America. Hitler has a slave for each
one of Our millions. and those slaves
will toll until they drop. Their
German masters will see to it that
they do.
Their work will not be hindered
by any strife between capital and
labor. All capital is under control
of the Huns. The labor unions are
a memory. A union of slaves is an
absurdity And if Russia falls. Hit
Ter will have two slaves or more for
every living American. They will
work to a single purpose. Their
strength will 60 into the machine
of their brutal overlords If they
falter, they will feel the lash or
other tortures. If they rebel, they
will die. Two hundred fifty million
will toll as one, and over them 30
100000 Germans will wage war
as one.
II we are TO survive as a Tree
people. We must face the reality.
We must meet it and conquer it.
Enforced unity of purpose must be
met with a still greater unity. Vast
preparations must be surpassed by
preparations still more vast. EX-
acted sacrifices must be outweighed
by willing sacrifices of those who
are free and would continue free
We must be worthy of the bless
ings We enjoy. We must forget our
selves and think only of our country.
I regret to say that we have not
measured UP to our obliga ationS and
our responsibilities. Capital has been
laggardly. Vast corporations which
could have turned their great fac
tories to defense months ago wasted
precious time trying to get tax bill
through the Congress. Patriotism
at a price and for profit is no
patriotism at all.