Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-05-01

Continued From Page AL
tered. mo ne Is interested in
politics between elections" He
would probably find q candi-
date with money to work for
the presidential elections next
year, he said.
1t is this here and-now APP
proach which is the basic
weakness Of Latin American
politics. The search tradition
ally is not for ideas or for poll.
cies, but for candidates with
both "perSonaliSmo" and ma
chiSmi"-a kind Of masculine
personal appeal to the semi
literate masses.
The tragedy is that 50 few
candidates today actually have
ideas or policies. And those who
pretend to have them rational
lie their bid for power behind
meaningless slogans.
Herein lies the original APP
peal Of communism to many Of
the more educated people. 1t
represents the most extreme re-
lection Of this staged politick-
ing. Communism supplies dedi-
cation, tight discipline and a
pat theology for prompt solu-
tons to real problems - a
program for action.
F.del Castro and the missile
crisis last fall have now dim
med that appeal. The economic
decline Of Cuba to date and the
obvious Subordination Of the
national revolution to Soviet
geopolitics have cast q shadow
over the Communist message.
Rival Of Communism
At the same time Christian
Democracy has emerged as q
vital doctrinal rival Of COM
munism. 1t. too. offers q real
program for action. 1t, too, Of
fers dedication, discipline and
revolution - but based on
Christian democratic values. 1t
can pick UP the pieces Of diSil-
lusionment left by communism.
Christian Democratic move
mentS are q relatively new
phenomenon in Latin America.
Most OF them date only from
1916 the same time as similar
parties were forming in italy
and Germany.
Hopeful observers now claim
that these Latin American par
ties are beginning to ride the
tide Of genuine democratic re-
volution which swept their Eur
opean counterpartS to power
after World War II.
But the individual parties
south Of the border are Still q
mixed crop. Success has varied
with national circumstances.
For instance, in Chile this
month the Christian Democrats
scored q spectacular municipal
election victory which makes
them the single largest party
In the country.
In Venezuela the Christian
Democrats - under the name
COPEI - have been loyal
partners In President Betan-
courts democratic government
for four years, and have con-
solidated their own identity In
the process.
Chief Opposition
And across the Caribbean in
the Dominican Republic. the
young Christian Democrats -
under the name Social Chris
tians - have already emerged
as the chief opposition to both
communism and the infant gov
eminent Of President Juan
Bosch.
on the other hand, the Chris
tan Democratic parties In both
Peru and Argentina are still
tiny. minorities whose leaders
play the same old political
game. In both countries they
waste their strength in bargain
ing maneuvers between larger
intractable forces.
The overriding importance Of
Latin Christian Democracy
however, lies more in the fu'
ture prospects. Whatever its
showing at the polls. it has thu
dynamics Of youth and growth
behind 1t.
In several cases those dynam'
ics have pushed Christian Dem
ocrats perilously close TO Cas-
troism. In Uruguay in 1861 anC
ST.