The Wilmington morning star., 1944-11-13
Voice OF The People
Christian Science Monitor

Americans have made basic political de-
cision on the war and the peace; Americans
will support that decision. When Governor
Dewey so finely said, II am confident that all
Americans will join me in the hope that di-
vine Providence will guide and protect the
President of the United States,'' he voiced
the true spirit of a free people who know
well that divisions before election are only
for the purpose of choosing policies and lead
ership on which they can more firmly unite
after election.
The decision Of the Nation was clear The
world can hardly miss its main import. We
believe the people will understand it We trust
that the President and Congress will heed it.
interpretations may differ on some features
of the election, but its larger outlines carry
plain meaning. The people risked a fourth
term rather than shift in the management
Of the war and the planning for peace. The
course of the aign-which came back
again and again to cente on foreign affairs
disclosed the vital interest of the people,
Large numbers of Republicans publicly de-
clared their belief that on the record the Pres
ident and his party would be more likely to
take the United States into effective policing
Of the peace Some of the voting indicates
that this sentiment played vital, possibly a
decisive part. The mandate against isolation
ism is not so clear as we wish. But such
things as the very poor showing of Repre-
sentative Hamilton Fish, Senator Nye and
others leave little comfort for isolationists.
Other cases, like the victory of Senator Lu-
cas- against a Chicago Tribune candidate in
Illinois, add to the evidence. And most i'm
pressive is the swing of Minnesota, apparent
ly largely due to the bold position of Senator
Ball, who bolted his party on the issue of
effective participation in peacekeeping
The fact that both Presidential candidates
eventually came out for giving the American
representative on the World Security Council
authority to act swiftly to prevent aggression.
measures the Importance of this issue. For
before the campaign began, few political OBJ
servers expected either Mr.. Dewey or Mr..
Roosevelt to risk stand on specific commit
ments
But II the President has mandate to carry
on in winning the war and the peace, the
conditions under which it was bestowed surely
advise him that it should be exercised with
new spirit and a new care. His popular ma
Jorlty was cut, and reading between the bal
lots he might conclude that without two things
the War-peace issue and the intensive vote
driving organization of the P. A. Che would
not have overcome the wide opposition to
him.
Daily it becomes clearer that only if the
unity achieved in fighting the war can be
largely maintained in striving for peace will
the postwar shape of things to come realize
american hopes. Governor Dewey was ever
lastngly right in saying that peace can he
obtained only by the united and continuing
effort of the Nation. Upon the President now
TAILS the tremendous duty and the unexampled
opportunity to foster such steadfast agree
ment.
The most serious question centers on his
relations with Congress. Many who had well
coined ms vision in resisting the Axis threat
telt that he had so antagonized Congress that
how
getting its support for a good peace program.
Inc new Congress will apparently have an
increased Democratic majority But the Pres
loent Will still face coalition of conservative
Democrats and Republicans His own party is.
however, almost a unit on foreign policy. His
problem will be to bring the Republicans
a1cng, and particularly in the Senate.
We can hardly believe that the President
desires fifth term. He should therefore be
Tree to rise above partisanship and take posi-
1--WE steps toward giving Americans govern
ment OF agreement. He should remake his
Caplnet, IN one move Tightening up the lax
and conflicting administration of the home
trent and giving evidence of a nonpartisan
Willingness to use all the Nations ability. He
might well call Congressional leaders into
more frequent consultation
1t he will he can go a long wav toward nh.
tanning Republican help in Congress on the
peacemaklng. Governor Dewey has taken the
mutual steps in that direction, and the force
OF ms aign-combined with the posi-
nllty that he will be his party's candidate
IN l94S-should make his influence effective
among Senators of his party The President.
IN search OF unity. would do well also to avoid
any sucn concessions to special labor inter-
est ests as would make it appear that he is pay
ing political debt at the expense of the ma.
tional welfare.
Inc national picture today offers the ma
ter!als for unity which will shorten the war
and strengthen the framework of peace. The
people have given leadership fresh oppor-
tunlty and obligation to weld those materials
firmly. But the peoples part was not ended
at the polls; they must continue to think and
pray and speak, insisting that their voice be
obeyed.