Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1953-12-19
Necessary Defense
FROM: The Central Christian Advocate


There is sacrifice-no labor, no tax no service
too hard for to bear support logical and
Sary defense of freedom These words of President
Eisenhower set in motion discussions and interpretations
IN every section of the nation What did the President
mean? Was this indication that the cut in the pro-
gram would be postponed? Or did it indicate that an in
creased burden of taxation would be placed upon the
people? Was it ntmaon that the grim struggle with
the Soviet Union was increasing in intensity, and that
increasing shadows of uncertainty being cast upon
us and we must be ready for any eventuality?
1t is still not clear what the President had in mind
And while Secretary Humphrey, in his address to the
American Bankers Association convention, assured the
bankers that the mo sacrifice remark did not indicate
switch in Administration tax plans the general picture
of national economy is far from being encourage
ing one There will probably be other adjustments which
will increase the load of Mr. Average Citizen while the
government operates under staggering deficit 1t
ported that the Administration is operating 1913 billion
in the red this fiscal year
But the financial consideration as we see it, is by
no means the most important factor We concerned
with the whole Interpretation of the term illogical and
necessary defense of FREEDOM and the methods by
which such freedom is safegualded W. are we'll
of the tremendous threat under which Russas progress
in atomic military supplies places Against such
threat we should always be alert.
The question which we raise, however, is whether
there is any real military defense either for Russia
America in mad rush to Guido each other in developing
atomic stOckpiles Retired Acc chairman Gordon Dean
has said, Russia has the capabity to hurt badly
and within two years she will have the capability
to virtually destroy if she first Since we have
consistently underestimate the Russians let's call
year-no two. If only hope today is to Guido the
Russians in bomb Development may be that do not
have much hope.
Perhaps too many Of have settled down to
two sad possibilities One is the inevtabty of
large number of people have resigned to the position
that things being they cannot avoid another
They do not necessarily expect it this next
year. even in the immediate future but they feel
tain that it will There is also the group who feels
that avoid by building strong military de-
lenses that other nations will be afraid to make at
tackS. And there those who entertain the feeling
that although continually moving in the direction
of somehow other will be averted There is
very little hope in any of these points of view.
In the first place, we do not just have to have
another although things complicated and critical
Responsible authorities continually point out that the
of people in the world do not want We
sorey in need of statesmen who help make the peo-
pies will reality. The process will be long and will
require much patience and sympathetic understanding
but the task is not impossible.
Of course we have already pointed out the futiity
of the for bombs While do not discount the ne
cessty for not allowing the enemy foolish military ad
yantages, do not believe that military preparedness
represents the road to And OF course the feeg
that will be averted in spite of the direction which
moving is juvenile to say the least We have
right to expect peace only we work for peace IN
peaceful ways
The real defense of a nation is moral defense, and
in a democracy called upon to organize our re-
latonShps in such way that all groups who compose
it can feel of personal and social security 1t
must be organized around the values which freedom
loving people hold dear and for which they willing
to give their lives 1t built upon the recognition OF the
rights of each Individual and deep concern Tor Jne
welfare of group life
In thinking of the road to real peace, must also
recognize the rights and respect the traditions cultures
and modes of thinking of nations that differ from
They need to feel that interested in them as
we regard This is not simple undertaking, but
it is by impossible. The logical and neces-
sary defense in the final analysis is in the realm OF the
spirit And we believe that the spirit of democracy,
rightly released hope for peace and understanding