Askov American., 1942-04-23
Fact And Opinion
The New Republicanism.
By E. c. Stengelsen.

ny =. y. StengelSen.
The New Republicanism.
Minnesota's best political future
lies in a return to Republicanism
This may sound strange, coming,
as it does, from one who has always
strung along with the Farmer-Labor-
ties.
But it may sound less strange when
the qualification is added that the
Republicanism here suggested is of
the progressive kind and not the re-
dictionary brand exemplified by the
Stassen-Ball and Star-Journal group.
In the past, Minnesota has repeat
edly repudiated that sort of Repub-
licanism. She will repudiate it again.
There are three distinct political
groups in the state-the radicals, the
progressives and the reactionaries.
So far, they have been divided into
six different camps.
A new alignment is due. If it
comes, it will cut through party lines.
The progressive Republicans and the
conservative Farmer-Laborites be-
long in the same camp. Other than
in name, there is little difference be-
tween them. It is probable that more
than any other group, they are rep
resentative of the political views of
most of the voters.
There is no great difference be-
tween the states old line Democrats
and its reactionary Republicans. They
are logical single political unit.
And the New Dealers and Left
Wing Farmer-Laborites belong to-
gether. AS one observer put it
Roosevelt is Democrat in name
only. In practice and theories, he
is Left Wing Farmer-Laborite." {"
A country's political order rests
on its economic system. Socialism is
but an outgrowth of state-controlled
economy.
Fascism and Nazi-ism are the log
ical results of managed capitalism.
Both have retained private enter
prise. But it is rigidly controlled.
It is in the exercise of this control
that these two systems have made
themselves abhorrent. Their pre-
datory behavior and ruthlessness are
logical consequences.
Control of a country's economy re-
quires RECOMMENDATION. There can be
no effective control, otherwise. It
explains the disappearance of democ-
racy in the totalitarian countries.
1t is only in those countries which
have free enterprise that there is
democracy. Nor will they lose it so
long as they retain capitalism. It is
the one clear lesson the last 20 years
have taught us.
A managed economy may be kindly
and paternalistic and benevolent. But
it will not be democracy, however,
much we insist that it is. 1t will
lack the chief characteristic of democ-
racy, namely the right to exercise
fully, within lawful bounds, such
talents as we have in pursuing such
occupation as we choose.
It is for that reason that I say
that Minnesota's best political fu-
ture-and the nations as well-lies
in adoption of progressive Repub-
licanism.
Republcanism has always been the
protector of private enterprise; and,
though unaware of it, perhaps, it has
been democracy's staunchest defend
er. It's chief fault has been that it
has been too protective. 1t has
leaned to the extreme of according
undue license to special groups. This
was particularly true of the time re-
action was in control
The Republican party needs to re-
ject the reactionary element This
small group represents itself only.
1t is by no means representative of
Republicanism as a whole. The un-
fortunate circumstance that this
clique has, in the past, had far too
much to say in the management of
the party's affairs is the chief reason
that Republicanism fell into disre-
pute.
The Republican party has an op-
portunity today that it has never had
before. It must become the avowed
champion of free enterprise and must
fight any move to weaken its founda-
ton. It must resist regimentation
wherever it is threatened.