Milford chronicle., 1948-11-12

have beaten him. In this connection, it is an
interesting fact that another piece of inVes-
tive may have been the determining factor.
One Republican slogan held that the Demo-
Gratis were the party of "Rum, ROmanism
and Rebellion" This is supposed to have
alienated the large Catholic vote in New
York, and thus given Cleveland the state.
Al Smith came in for heavy abuse too.
A clergyman asked rhetOrically: "Shall dry
America elect a cocktail President?" A
pamphlet described the Governor as "the
friend of prostitution" The Catholic issue
was played up to the hilt. Herbert Hoover
and the responsible Republicans had no part
IN this and considered such tactics cOntemp-
tlble. But they couldn't stop the vilifcatiOn.
And Mr.. Hoover didn't get off scot free byI
any means. He was accused of fraud during
his engineering career and other crimes.
To come down to the very recent past,
Franklin Roosevelt was a consistent target
OF the rumOr mOngers. A Iunatic fringe put
out pamphlets to the effect that he was really
Jewish, was a sufferer from unmentiOnable
diseases, and so on. ScurrilOuS attacks were
made on Mrs. Roosevelt. Matters went so
far that the late President once said that
his enemies 'have not been content with at
tacks on me, or on my wife, or on my sons
no, not content with that, they now include
my dog Fala." Oddly enough, that was lit
orally true, Fala being accused of vicious
ness and other canine sins.
1t is a point of interest that vitriOlic at
tack has been employed most freely and con-
sistently against the more dynamic and col
Orful candidates - Jefferson, Cleveland,
Roosevelt, etc. This caused Mr.. Bendiner to
say IN his Mercury article, "Given the COM
paratlVely cOlOrless pair of nominees we
have, it was imprObably from the start that
the 1948 affair would ever dip to the low
but gaudy level of past classics " Thus,
the emphasis was pretty much on issues and
principles rather than on personalities. But
It's safe bet that during some future cleo
tlOn the mudslingers will dredge up the old
ammunition again.
5000
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ARMISTICE DAY
The significance of Armistice Day goes
deep into the heart of this country It marks
our victory IN the two most destructive wars
the world has ever known. Of comparable
Importance, it should remind every Ameri-
can OF the enormous human and economic
wealth we have been forced to spend to
maintain our liberties, and to defend those
principles upon which the dignity of man
depends.
Armistice Day should bring us another
CIIOuSII DIS well. 1IlS naClOn has never pro-
VOked a war. No people on earth is more
peaceful in intention. None will do more tC
achieve just and lasting peace for all coun-
tries. If ever we are forced to engage in
war, it will be because we can find no other
means of maintaining those rights and free
dOms which make up the American tradi-
ton.
The United States must build and con-
serve its strength. That means, on the sur
face, that we must have a strong military
force capable of dealing with aggressOrs,
and mighty industrial structure to back it
up. But these things, vital as they are, rep
resent reflection of our strength rather
than the substance of it. For the core of this
nations strength and power lies in the spirit
OF its people.
That spirit is the spirit of freedom. It
is based on the knowledge that every Ameri-
can has inalienable rights which cannot be
abrOgated. The right to speak our minds.
the right to own property, the right to en-
gage IN a business of our choosing, the right
to be free of dictation by government these
and other rights constitute our strength.
And that too is the significance of Armistice
Day.
5000