The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1943-12-14
Bv WEsTBROOK PEGLER

NEW YORK.-It is said that CT course the
plan of freedom for the other peoples of the
world after this war must necessarily be
vague and I will agree that it was impossible
to draw map at Moscow or Teheran de-
filming national boundaries and to write fixed
or even a tentative and variable constitution
to be given to all those nations. STILL to all
Americans, the Constitution of the United
States as amended, is the ideal expression
of freedom and any future way of life for
these other peoples which does not contain
its guarantees is no freedom al all to us.
Being still the freest people on earth, not
withstanding a trend toward whimsical and
autocratic government in recent years. the
American people, considering their contribu-
ton to the victory, had a right to express
their Ideal There was no reason to be bashful
about this for it is our creed, and no other
nation on our side is fighting harder or better
for the victory
On the other hand, we certainly know that
the Russian system is opposed to ours in
every important respect. 1t is a one-party
government run by an absolute dictator and
while it has been very efficient in Russia
and may be to their liking, it stil has nothing
in common with and therefore cannot
represent to us anything but a total denial
of freedom.
The obvious reason why we have not in
sisted on putting forth our system is that
continent more consistent with Russia's sys-
tenn.
We are told that Russia is becoming freer
as her national power and confidence grow
and that under the new order the small nations
will be protected by the three great victorious
giants and, at least, will be spared the tragic
necessity of continuing the CHASTITY series of
wars.
But in this reticence OF ours there is
disquieting suggestion that even for our own
home purposes, the American. Constitution
might be revised in the direction OF the Soviet
system. There are some IN high positions in
our own government who, for years, have
expressed the thought that the government
should be the people boss, not their servant,
and that equality Of opportunity means equal
ity of achievement, enforced by government
regulations. Thus, in the income tax, it is
proposed that the more successful citizen be
pennaized and leveled off not merely for the
purpose OF raising money out to equallZe the
results OF unequal ability and diligence Thus,
also In the labor policy Of the government,
unions are encouraged to lImir the effort and
output of the superior worker and his earn
lngs as we'll Meanwhile, too, ou, courts have
been by-paSsed in favol of governmental COM
missions and bureaus ana there is just no
mistaklng the fact that national govern
ment has in many cases beer warmly nos
pltable to men and women who either are
outright communists or have s1ohgly lndI-
Gated their admiration Of the RUSSIAN syS-
tenn, and lately, we have had taste OF forced
labor through job freezing under cover OF the
war emergency but without a labor shortage
to justify it.
In offering freedom under protection to the
rescued nations of the future world we nave
not made any promises to the Individual hu-
man being except the vague terms OF the
four freedoms which are capable OF various
interpretations. They are SO general that even
communists can subscribe to them Wereas no
communist can subscribe TO the posluVe and
specific guarantees 81 the United States Con-
stituton. And, while they may represent some
| gain, they still constitute a sharp discount
| from freedom as the people OF the United
States know the meaning OF the word
| think we are missing opportunities along
| this line After all, the American constitution
| is much greater than the fou.' freedoms and,
unless we are ashamed OF it OF prepared to
offer the world a compromise, our statesmen
should whoop it up as the goal toward winch
| all should yearn.
| Our conduct in this matter Is rat1er Sug-
gestive of the shyness of Roman od'ilol!c
| who saying grace or the Lore iayel Ii
mixed company refrains from making the
| sign of the cross. The Constructor 10 oui GA
preston of freedom and this temg so why
do we pretend TO be content with lorr!ula
calling for freedom of speech ahc exp esslol,
freedom of worship. freedom from Wsnt ai1u
| from fear which even Hltlel n .so
warp to his own peculiar meanings!