AMERICAN ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 23, 7 November 1938, Page 5

AMERICAN ELECTION.

WARNING AGAINST FASCISM. PRESIDENT APPEALS TO PEOPLE. (United Press Association —Copyright.) NEW YORK, November 4. Saying that the rest of the world was far closer to America than in the days of democracy’s founders, Mr Roosevelt to-night called on the nation to preserve the social and economic gains of liberal-, ism in Tuesday’s elections. He remanded Americans of the terrorism and intolerance in other lands, and gave a warning that unless democracy moved forward as a living force, Fascism and Communism would grow in-strength. Mr Roosevelt said: “In other lands the flares of militarism, conquest, terrorism, and intolerance have vividly revealed to Americans how precious and extraordinary it is to be allowed the free choice of free leaders for free man, but we cannot carelessly assume that a nation is strong and great merely because it lias a democratic form of Government. “Democracy, weakened by internal dissensions and mutual suspicion bom from social injustice, is not a match for autocracies which ruthlessly repress internal dissension. Democracy, in order to live, must become a positive force in the daily lives of its people. It must make men and women realise that it really cares for the security of every individual, and that its toleiance is enough to inspire essential unity among citizens, and militant enough to maintain their liberty against social oppression at home and against military aggression abroad. “In these tense, dangerous situations within the world, Democracy will save itself with the average man and woman by proving itself worth saving. Too many of those who prate about saving democracy are only interested in saving things as they were. ■ 'Democracy should concern itself also with things as they ought to be. lam not talking meie idealism, I am pressing a realistic necessity. “If democracy ceases to move forward a*s a living force, seeking day and niglit to better tlie lot of citizens, Fascism and Communism, aided unconsciously, perhaps, by old-time Tory republicianism, will gfiow in strength. Claiming that the New Deal’s e.conomic and social programme had definitely given the United States a more stable and less artificial prosperity than any other nations, the President appealed to the people not to allow any weakening of their gains. He pledged himself to non-interference with private enterprise, provided abuses were eliminated, and urged the re-election of the Governor of Now York (Mr H. H. Lehman) and other New York State Democrats. . . Ho commented that at a critical moment in the world’s histoiy, the nation could not risk supplanting its seasoned leaders.