The Wilmington morning star., 1944-10-12
Rugged Americans

For all the dissimilarity of their careers,
Alfred E. Smith and Wendell Willkie were es-
sentially alike-great and admirable men
whose greatness was intrinsically and ines
capably American.
Both won the highest honor that their par
ties could bestow in spite Of handicaps of
background which would have been fatal to
the ambitions Of lesser men. Both Of them
failed to win the presidency, and in each case
the failure was due in large part to their re-
fusals to trade honest and honorable convic-
tons for vote-winning compromises.
Al Smith learned his politics in the rough
and-tumble environment OF decidedly un-
savory political machine. Wendell Willkie was
innocent of any political experience when he
was swept dramatically from a successful
but unspectacular private life to the presiden-
tial nomination. It was easy for opponents to
taunt them with shouts Of "Tammany" and
wall Street, 1t was impossible to snnirch
their characters or their motives.
A great liberal who didn't pirate about 1t, AL
Smith served as New York's governor in a
day when the country's chief concern was with
domestic affairs. It was day Of complacency,
bisotry and hypocrisy, and Mr.. Smith opposed
all Of them. He fought for social and govern
mental improvements when it would have been
easier to maintain the status quo OF general
prosperity. He was devoutly and proudly Cath
Ole. He thought the Eighteenth Amendment
unfair, unavoidable and un-American, and said
So
This was In 1928, when the Khan was still
alive, when office holders drank wet and voted
dry, when the Anti-Saloon League was a great
power in American politics. AL Smiths beliefs
cost him the presidency, but not his integrity.
Wendell Willkie came upon the scene at
time Of world war and world thought. His po-
litical idealism crossed party lines, and his
burning convictions would not be curbed to the
professional politicians bidding.
Mr.. Willkie judged man by his words and
deeds, not by his party. He invited similar
judgment He sought to convince, not to COM
promise. And his beliefs cost him not only the
presidency but, later, his party's nomination.
Perhaps this last disappointment fastened his
death. But it was the disappointment not Of an
ambitious man, but OF man who carried his
beliefs into battle with those who opposed them
most strongly, and fought for them with noble
courage.
AL Smith and Wendell Willkie rose to the
heights in the approved American manner,
one from New York's tenement district, the
other from a small town Of rural Indiana.
Both were men Of great personal charm and
compelling character. Both spoke unaffectedly
the regional speech Of their beginnings, which
shocked the purists. But their words excited
the admiration Of millions, even when they
did not win agreement. For they were the
words of wise and compassionate minds, bril-
liantly informed, fiercely sincere.
The country's loss in the passing Of either
Of these men would be heavy at any time But
the death Of both, particularly at this time,
is grievously SO. We need them in the days to
come for their service as sort OF public con-
science, in or out of office. For we knew that
when they spoke it was always from the heart,
never from expediency. And we knew that we
would do well to listen and to weigh their
words.
-V