The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-03-21
A Dangerous Course

The American system of government is
the system we would rather live under than
any other on earth. 1t is worth defending. 1t
is worth fighting for abroad and it is worth
fighting for at home. Perfection does not
exist on earth, and we are not perfect. Our
great documents like the Constitution and
the Bill of Rights probably come as close to
perfection in governmental philosophy as
any systems in history. But our politicians,
our administrators, our judges, and we the
people, are not perfect in the administration
of these noble rights, privileges. securities
and ideals. as they apply to all Americans.
We have a long way to 60 in everyday life
before we can reach the ideals laid down in
the constitution. We must strive increasingly
to do so, for where there is no moving for
ward, backsliding is inevitable. There can be
10 standing still.
We ourselves should be unhappy under
the Russian form of government. We should
detest the loss of personal freedom far more
than we are attracted by the promised Sc
curities which Communism offers. But we
also believe profoundly that every people on
earth has the right to choose its own form of
government and live without molestation so
long as that government does not commit
aggressive acts against other nations or at
tempt. as the Nazi's did, to kill whole groups
within its own borders. We believe in play
ing a tough game of poker at the peace table,
and of calling Russian bluffs when it is in
our interest to do so. But we are not so blind
as to deny the Russians the right of political
interest in the countries around its borders,
any more than we would deny that the
United States with its famous Monroe doc
trine has strong and direct political interest
in the countries of this hemisphere. And
certainly it would take a very foolish person
to deny that Britain exerts political pressure
wherever it can, in all parts Of the world.
and that it is right now up to its neck in
power politics in Greece and Turkey.
Almost as strongly as we would detest and
oppose a Communist movement in America,
or the interference of Russia in the affairs
of Mexico or Cuba, we are inclined To OPP
pose the imperiaiistie policies of Great Brit
ian, and Great Britian's present success in
convincing President Truman that good old
Uncle Sam must now underwrite the British
Empire. We do not want to be suckers for
Great Britain any more than for Russia.
We think there is no more foolhearty
foreign policy than to get sold on a single
minded idea and pursue it at all risks and
perils, without ever trying to ask ourselves
how our policy might seem from the other
side of the ocean. and without ever admit
ting that perhaps there is another side to the
controversy which we might with wisdom
at last make ourselves familiar with.
Let us pause for a minute and reflect on
some of the implication of our present strong
arm policy in the far-away Mediterranean.
for admittedly it is a strong-arm policy.
How would the people of the United
States feel if one bright day Joe Stain got
on the radio and told the world that ii was
in danger of the capitaliStic American form
of government and that out of pure goodness
of heart he was going to send S400. 100000 to
support a detested Red government in Mexico
Gf such a state of affairs existed in Mexico
as exists in Greece? Suppose he made clear
his intention of sending trained Russian mill
tary advisors to Mexico. and suppose three
days later Russia announced that it was CO.
ing to send a task force of warships into the
Gulf of Mexico. Suppose also that il had
been some Russian scientists. not Americans.
who had first discovered the principle of
making atom bombs. Suppose that only less
than a year and a half ago Russia had blasted
Japan out of the war in the most startling and
f~rightful demonstration of military power in
history, two vast eity-destroying explosions
that nunbed the Imagination with the inn
mensity of its frightful possibilities. Suppose
that Russia last summer had decided 10 touch
off a few more atom bombs in the Pacific and
had invited our military observers to be
present just to see what they might do to
New York, Washington, New Orleans. San
Francisco, if they really wanted to get tough.
Suppose that irresponsible editorial writer's
all over Russia came right out in the open
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