The Omaha guide., 1946-11-16
TheBeuTOll
(BY H. BELLY

(BY LEONARD H. BELLY
NEW YORK, N. Y. (GLOBAL) There are times when Silence is
golden" and the words of others seem more emphatic and to the point.
This is of those times and this column carries U. S. Senator James
Mead's ideas of a Democracy.
Democracy Means The Right To Work-The Right To Live.
By James Mead U. S Senator, N. Y.
TETe have just emerged VIGOROUSLY from a war for free
w dom of religion, freedom Of expression, freedom from
fear of oppression, freedom from want. 1t was to these
four freedoms, proclaimed by the late President Franklin
ID. Roosevelt, that the men and women of the United Nations
dedicate themselves.
1t was these same four freedoms that inspired people
around the world to carry on to victory the struggle against
RECOMMENDATION, exploitation, and dictatorship. We here in
America have long known that men cannot live half free,
half slave. That profound truth is deeply embedded in the
core of our American experience. 1t was said that we were
not prepared for World War III; that our military establish
ment was at a disadvantage because of the head start achiev-
ed by the axis powers. In a military sense that WI true for
miliiarism has not been our predominant characteristic.
However, We rapidly overcamc al early advantage en-
joyed by the Axis and with matchIess leadership and unpar-
alelled unity we overwhelmed the enemy in every category
and beat him back to crushing defeat. That record Of ac-
complisllment that lead to victory indicated that in one sense
had revatilized and strengthened the spirit of our people. We
had found a leader who translated into law and reality the
hopes and aspirations of the people. Under tine Presidents
able leadership, q philosophy Of government which had here
tofore protected the citizen only in his right TO be free was
transformed into a government which now protected the
citizen in his right to work and in his right to live.
IL we had used the entire period between the World
Wars to make democracy a dynamic and a meaningful force
in the lives of all Of our people and Of the peoples of the
world as well we would not be called upon to fight a bitter
war to defend the democratic system Of government. If de-
mocracy had meant higher standards of living, great educa-
tional opportunities, fuller national liberty, it would not
have been called upon to fight desperately for its life. I'm
fortunately, the dcmocracies failed too frequently to do
those things.
To many peoples of the world Democracy became syn
onymous with unemployment, with malnutrition, with inse-
curity. 1t meant for many people, human exploitation, col
oniaI SUI, iusa:ion, and national repression. In our one case
we we're prone 10 neglect the 'one third of the nation ilLfed,
iIIhoused, and ilI-cIothed.' If we had made democracy ev.
erywhere mean more food, more clothing, more education,
more equality, it would not be called upon to meet the chal-
Icnse Of totalarianism. No demagogue could have climbed
to power OF the ladder of popular dissatisfaction and rest
Iessness. Perhaps these are unpleasant truths but they
must be reiterated SO that they will not be repeated this time.
We must face these facts until they have sunk deep into
our minds and into our hearts as well. Democracy must
mean progress, progress towards greater unity, greater OPP
porlunity and greater prosperity. The world wants Peace
more than anything, a peace that will be lasting and endur-
ing; a peace that will not be jeopardized by inequalities and
inequities, among the peoples of the nations of the world. 1t
must be a peoples peace. wherein the freedoms for which
we fought and sacrificed will be recognized rights and priv
ileges of all.
With the war happily behind us, with the tyrants who
brought it on destroyed, we must now embark upon a cru
SADIE that will dim the scars of the conflict and compensate
the people as far as humanity possible for the sacrifices and
the sorrows they have endured. We must insulate ourselves
and the peoples of the world from the occasion of another
W by declaring a world war against poverty, against ignor-
ance, against persecution, against prejudice, against bigOtry,
against exploitation, against intolerance.