Evening star., 1948-03-29
FIGHTING An Idea

One of the most appealing arguments
being advanced by Henry Wallace in cam
paigning for the presidency is his conten-
ton that "you can't combat an idea with
force"
It is no doubt true that theoretical
communism, as an idea, could not be
beaten back with guns and bayonets, even
II 1t were desirable to try. But there Is a
vast difference between the spread of the
idea that is communism, and the methods
which actually are being used by the Com
munists to impose their doctrines on other
countries.
In practice there is little if any differ
ence between Communism and Nazi-ism.
We find in both the aggressive philosophy,
q concentration of effort on armed
strength, the dictator calling upon his
secret police to herd the people into the
service of an all-powerful state.
The Nazi master race philosophy, like
the Communist philosophy, was an idea.
And 1t was an idea which, as applied by
Hitler, could be and was beaten down by
force. If the physical means are available,
and If there is the will to use them II
necessary, the same thing can be done
to the idea of communism as that idea Is
being impressed upon the world today.
When Henry Wallace says that this can
not be done it is well to look at the record.
In August Of 1910 Mr. Wallace described
Nazi-ism as "a materialistic religion Of
darkness based on force and lies and
led by prophets Of evil" He conceded
that there is no denying the strength
and fanatical zeal of this satanic doc
trine."
But Mr.. Wallace did not believe then
that 1t was either morally wrong or
futile to resort to force to combat Nazi-ism.
The man who today hurls invective at our
Government as 1t tries to bolster Greece
and China had this to say on April 8,
1e41 "The Nazi theology must be so
crushed that it can never rise. It Is
one of the rights of the American people
to defend democracy by helping Britain,
China, Yugoslavia and Greece to the limit
with planes, ships, munitions and food"
Today MIR. Wallace assails in the most
extreme terms the motives and the in
tegrity Of President Truman and those
of his advisers who are trying to awaken
the American people to the fact that we
may have to fight the Russians to preserve
our freedom Again, according to Mr..
Wallace this kind of talk is sinful and
futile.
But on July 81, 1941, he said this:
"Only by developing our might to the
utmost, only by demonstrating through
every action and attitude that we are
completely willing to go to war II neces-
sary, Is there any chance for that peace
which we so earnestly desire. - On
unity of purpose, devotion to justice,
truth, democracy and the might of our
arms rests our salvation. We must stand
firm"
It would be well to remember these
words as Mr.. Wallace tries to persuade
us now that it is hopeless to stand firm
in the face of Communist aggression.
For it is just as important today as 1t
was in July, 1941, that the American
people, united in purpose, make it COM
pletely clear that they are willing to go
to war If necessary to preserve freedom.
If the democracies have to oppose COM
munism with force, they can do it. And
the record proves beyond any reasonable
doubt that when Mr.. Wallace says that
we cannot resist communism with armed
might what he really means Is that he
does not want to see force used against
the Communists and that he hopes to be
able to destroy the will of the American
people to fight for their liberty, even If
1t should become clearly necessary to do so.