A System That Works

In a Denver speech last week, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, a one time New Dealer, a Brandeis disciple, and the youngest member of the Court, examined the cold war and laid down a program for action. Said Justice Douglas, in part:

"Against a living democracy, the assaults of the Communists will be unavailing . . . Communists assume that the basic problem in society is class warfare. But the only real aristocracy we know is the aristocracy of individual initiative and achievement. Men who work in overalls today can become corporation executives tomorrow. The lists are open to all; and the ribbons go to the fleet. Class warfare-and the American character are foreign to each other . . .

"Communists adopt the tactics of parliamentary government. But their purpose is to seduce the liberals, mislead the conservatives, and confuse everyone. A truly liberal government is an anathema to them. They do not want reform for others. They want power for themselves.

"Communist techniques have been the political tools of tyrants from time immemorial: murder and terror. We refuse to accept fraud and deceit as standards of public conduct. We reject murder and terror as political weapons . . ."

Inspiring Conduct. "We can best urge the democratic way on the peoples of the world if our conduct at home sets an inspiring example of democracy in action.

"We must not make bogy-men of the Communists in this country. It is not the Communists themselves that we in this country should fear, for they are no more than 100,000 in number. All we need fear is our susceptibility to their propaganda.

"We must restore integrity to our own political tactics by putting an end to the shameful practice of branding as a Communist everyone who espouses a liberal reform or promotes a program for the underprivileged. We must keep our country a place where men are not afraid to think and read and speak freely . . .

"We must become politically more conscious. We must take our politics more seriously. If we throw our full energies into political organization and activity, the Communists will be impotent in our affairs. They could not then win by default; and it is only by default that they can gain a strategic hold on important groups in this country . . ."

Powerful Voice. "Our greatest error would be to fashion our foreign policy merely in terms of antiCommunism. We will fail miserably if we do no more than that. If we follow that course, war will soon appear as the only alternative.

"We must design a foreign policy which will espouse and promote liberal, humanitarian programs for the masses of people of the world. It must strengthen the democratic forces in other nations and not entrench reactionary interests that thirst for power.

"America's voice, if it is to be powerful among the masses of people, must do more than talk of the glories of democracy. We must show the way with practical programs of social reconstruction. The European Recovery Program serves that end; and so does the China Aid Act, at least in part.

"This course requires the backing of a strong, alert and mobile military machine. For weaklings have never yet won a campaign--political or otherwise--against dictators.

"These should be our articles of faith. If we adhere to them, we will be true to our character and ideals. Success is assured if we are true to ourselves. We have a system which, though far from perfect, is strong with idealism. It gives elbow room for men of all races and all beliefs. It is vital and dynamic. And it works. We have the means of shaping the world in our pattern. If we do, freedom will be assured for all men."

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