Evening star., 1949-02-13
Marching With the Times

Senator vandenberg, speaking at Detroit,
found himself in much the same dilemma
which bedeviled Governor Dewey in his
speech here Tuesday night.
Briefly, that dilemma is how to set out
in general terms formula for the revival
of Republican political fortunes which will
be useful in dealing with specific Issues.
This is very difficult thing to do, and it
can be said, without reflection on either
man, that neither has quite succeeded.
The main theme of Senator Vanden-
bergs talk, so far as 1t dealt with the do
mestic scene, was that he wanted his party
to be liberal enough to march with the
times. He can speak on this subject with
some authority, for Senator Vandenberg
has shown that he Is endowed with that
quality, not too common among men In
public life, to change point Of view that
experience has proved to be wrong. Not
50 many years ago the Michigan Senator
was an isolationist. But as events revealed
the inadequacies and the great dangers Of
this philosophy, he was big enough to
change He became the symbol of Re-
publican Party that was ready to accept
the facts of international life, and, as
much as any other man, he has played
a decisive part in hammering out the vital
role which this Nation is playing today in
the affairs of the world.
So when Senator Vandenberg speaks of
marching with the times, he is giving ex-
preston to something more than bit Of
rhetoric. When he says that the Republi-
can Party will die II 1t remains static, the
statement Is entitled to serious considera-
tion by his party colleagues.
1t Is one thing, however, for him to say
that the Republicans, while not abandon
ing the "time-tried fundamentals" OF our
national life, must be ready ITO dare new
answers to new problems, and to use the
power and strength and initiative Of gov
ernment to help citizens to help them
selves when they confront problems beyond
their resources and control" It is some
thing else to say Just how these valid
general principles should be applied to
day-to-day issues that arise, and some
ching still different to determine, from the
partisan standpoint, how this can be done
in order to offer the people some real
choice between the Republican and Demo-
cratic programs
Perhaps the answer lies as much in O
state Of mind as in anything else. The Re-
publican hope may rest not on having pat
answers to all the problems, but on ap-
preaching the problems in q spirit Of will
ingness to devise and try new solutions.
There is no political future In opposition
for the sake Of opposition. The Democrats
are in the advantageous position of having
a program and at least some plan for put
ting much Of it into effect. 1t may we'll be
that the plan, In some of its aspects, is bad,
but the Republicans will get nowhere, If
they are going to be content In the main
merely to view with alarm. They must
come forward with q program and plan
Of their own. No doubt these will have
to be arrived at through trial and error
process. and in this process 1t will be the
state of mind that will count most.
Senator Vandenberg has much to offer
his party colleagues in that undertaking.
For this reason, as well as on account of
the great influence for good which he can
bring to bear on the continuing develop
ment Of our foreign policy, his announce
ment of an intent to retire from public
life upon the conclusion Of his present
Senate term is detecting news. It is to be
hoped that he will have change of heart
before 1852 comes around.