Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-11-10

THE second class of Americans is an out
i growth from the high self-confdence of the
frst-class Americans: but is not held back by
respect for the equal rights OF others. The
second-class Americans gain power by accident
or design, love 1t, use 1T, and hate to let 1t 60
Even in a church, or a club, or in croquet
match. they are bossy They tell you what to
believe, how to play your golf shot, what wicket
to play for; how to manage your children, your
wife or husband. They want to save your very
soul for you, and take all the credit for the JOB.
They are apt to disguise their love of power,
often even from themselves, by saying, and
often thinking, that they are using their God
given ability and sacrificing themselves for the
good of the others.
But they simply use the formula of all the
ancient despots. Even the sultans and the alb
solute tyrants in their coronation oaths,
pledged themselves to guard the welfare OF
their subjects. The only hitch was that their
definition of welfare was their own.
THERE is a second class made up of pro-
fessional politicians who are frankly out to
get what they can, while the getting is good.
But while these cynicS are great lovers of 1.-The
people and great baby-kissers they are apt to
remain in obscurity, like the manipulators in
puppet show.
They steal enormous sums but are less dan
gerous than the heavenly sitters in the blue
sky. For the crooks can be and sometimes are
put in the penitentiary But we can't sentence
to such a place, the self-elected benefactors of
this nation.
You have to prove criminal motive to
convict man. and these self5canonized saints
are robbng us from parental motives, Just as
good parents lovingly take matches away from
their infants and firearms from their foolish
children
These -auteerats by democratic permission
nD1i1H III. I
superiority if it were not for what l call the
third-class Americans
THESE third-class people have inherited the
old world habit of mind They have always
been ruled, and they want to be ruled. Like
tanned elephants, they will toll to capture and
drag the free members Of the animal kingdom
into the slavery they love-,
The third-classers are glad to. accept secur-
lty from on high They will not race or fight
for prizes. They dread and avoid competition.
They want the dear government to slap down
competitors and adventures. They hate free
enterprise.
They are the sort of people who tried to get
George Washington to be king But he was no
second-class American Even when power was
thrust on him, he refused to enlarge it. or keep
it. He remained a irst-class American.
The third-class Americans make the second
class Americans possible. They will follow any
pied piper-especially pie-eyed piper-who
plays them pretty tune.
THERE are countless other divisions into
which you could classify Americans. You
could throw them into compartments as if you
were a railway postal clerk sorting mail But
these three classes seem to me to represent
definite groups They are all jumbled up to-
gether in the population, except at election
time, or on great occasions that call for our
people to choose sides and organize for a con-
test.
CTEP out and take look at yourself. Are
~ you first-class American and proud Of it =?
Do you resent coercion, either by the whip or
the bride of comfortable stall filled with hay
that you have paid for?
Or are you a second-cass American, with