Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-02
Discusses Function
Of ldeoIists
MiIitory Writer Urges
Congress to Formulate
Statement Of War Policy
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot

Statement Of War Policy
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.
These are hard times for idealists.
The grim and practical realities OF war
present problems which must be dealt
with In q grim and practical fashion,
often by commanders in the presence
of the enemy compelled to act on the
spur OF the moment, with insufficient
information and upon no other con-
sideration than those OF military
necessity.
It should occasion no surprise that
decisions thus taken are not always
acceptable to the idealist. the dreamer,
the seeker after better things to come.
Our idealists, in their indignation over
the occasional tendency OF soldier and
statesman to compromise with the ulti-
mate ideal in favor of the immediate
practical benefit do not always pause
to reflect that If in the pre-war years
some Of them had been slightly more
concerned with the practical present
rather than the illusory future, the
task Of soldier and statesman today
might not have presented 80 many
complications.
Yet it Is not too much to say that
We have small chance Of winning this
war and so advancing little way along
the road toward better world, were it
not for our idealists and the dreams they
dream. It is they who set UP golden
standards in the sun upon which every
eye, even from the nethermost night,
can TX itself in hope. Their words are
Of light, even though most Of US must
still toll on in darkness, not yet daring
to ask to see the distant scene, not yet
quite daring to believe in 1t, but seeking
only that the next step shall be arm
and sure.
Not all Of US appreciate the service
our idealists do us. Some Of US even
take time out to make their lives addi-
tionally miserable. Let an idealist set
forth in public words his particular
blueprint for brave new world. and
instantly there arises chorus OF jeers
and catcalls, coupled with sarcastic
demands to be informed ~ to just
exactly how this utopia Is to be brought
into being.
It Il inevitable that 1t should be 20.
The intensely practical man immersed
In the intricacies and details Of accom-
plshing practical task naturally tends
to Be impatient when subjected to crid-
cal interruption on the ground that he
y thinking only Of doing hia Job In
the best way he knows how and not
Of doing It In manner conducive to
the higher good Of all mankind.
We have seen something Of the Ill
results Of these tendencies In our recent
experiences in North Africa and We may
BE- sure that We shall zee more As the
additional difficulties Of our further
progress arise to beset us. In fact, all
Of our dealings with our Allies, and
theirs with each other. are troubled
by the very fact that We have not
gathered together and ret forth in plain,
everyday language comprehensive to
the common man throughout the world
and translated into terms OF his own
needs and aspirations, the ideals for
which We are fighting and the ends ws
are seeking to achieve.
1t Is easy enough to say that our
President Is on record In these matters
and that every one in the world knows
exactly where he stands. But the prac-
teal man will ask, first. what guarantee
there Is that Mr.. Roosevelt viii still
be President Of the Unitad statea when
the war II over, and second. what
guarantees there Is that Mr.. Roorevelt.
II stilI in ohace vi,l - +h.t t,r,. 8.
able To command . majority Of tn
United states aenate for tho transIa.
ton of his policies into practical accom-.
plishnent.
80, when the practical man n,s.est.
that ~ nut OF talkin~ .hoa,t tf,eei. .,,1
goals until thu var Il ~,nr - I. ra.lIv
Inducing in imnractieaI cnntr.A icticrs
He should rather t,lrn hie MINI to-.rA
seeking for some means nv vhich ar
ideals ana. our p,,rpoaes NAV i. nl.,rlv
ret forth.
Obviously. n far - thu ryn,t.d st.t..
Is concerned. thia cannok IL do.,.. -
the President alone. q 1890 -..h.
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