THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY JANUARY 11, 1947. Democracy's Ha rdest Question

Northern Advocate, 11 January 1947, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY JANUARY 11, 1947. Democracy's Ha rdest Question

Disregard or defiance of existing law and an obvious if subtle endeavour by minorities to impose their will upon majorities have been unpleasant features of life in many countries during recent years. Wlrat has been called a "divine discontent'' is not to be condemned: rather is it alien to be commended, for it leads u> desire for beltenucni of conditions of existence and consequently brings about, sooner than would otherwise have happened, a higher standard of living. But. while this is admitted, car-: nn,si nevertheless be taken to ensure that people moved by class hatred, rather than divine discontent with existing conditions, arc not helped to “white ant” true democracy, or ever, civilisation itself.

Tiffs is a matter of profound importance today, when the plans of Communists, usually discussed underground. are being displayed on Ike surface in countries where the philosophy of Karl Marx has always been regarded as repugnant to the soirif of democracv.

What should be done to counter Communistic doctrine?

The Christian Science Monitor, which takes a broad and enlightened view of world affairs, recently replied editorially to a correspondent who held that the Communist Party in the United States should not be allowed to contest elections. The correspondent wrote:

“Communism is an evil, just as certainly as Naziism or Fascism. Its avowed intent is to overthrow our American system o! Government and change the American way of life. . . . Communism is

not a political party. It is a foreign ideology, and to us Americans a dangerously subversive movement. As such it lias no place on an American ballot alongside the regular political parties whose purpose is to promote and enhance the principles of liberty and freedom on which our nation was founded."

The Monitor’s comments arc particularly interesting to New Zealanders at the present moment, when Communist-coloured movements are prominent on both sides of the Tasman. They should influence public opinion in regard to the general question whether unrestricted liberty should be given to everybody to print or broadcast.

In this connection His Holiness toe Pope, when discussing this week attacks upon the Church, questioned the advisability of "unconditional liberty" of the press and cinema to undermine the religious and moral foundations of the people's lives. The Christian Science Monitor, on the other hand, told its correspondent that it stands in firm and unqualified opposition to the o).jectives, doctrines and methods of the pohcal group which bears the name oi the American Communist Party, "but there remains the very large problem of how to deal with Communism within the framework of democracy." It has been well said that the essence of democracy is not so much the rule of the majority as the toleration of minorities. A minority which puts forward candidates lor office, and thus must debate the issues before the electorate, not only compels wholesome self-examination on the part of the major parties, but it must also justify its own position openly. But. it is pointed out. the danger from Communism in America —and the same thing may be said of New Zealand—is not that it can win many votes at the hustings. It lies hi infiltration, in agitation wherever frustration and injustice have entered before it. "The more the Communist Party will argue its case in the give and take of political campaigns, the greater the probability that it will either fade away or change toward the American pattern,

as other radical movements have done in the past. Just now. underground. it is a menace; out in full daylight it is not." Another difficulty which confronts Democracy when considerin'; whether unrestricted freedom of expression should be permitted or disallowed is the "ever-recurring, soulsearching question; Can the thought we may hate and fear be arbitrarily denied expression without giving licence also to that which would stamp out the tender buds of enlightened ideas?" The divergent views to which we have drawn attention certainly emphasise problems confronting people enjoying the privileges of democracy. • They should realise, however, that insidious propaganda aimed at stirring class hatred as a lever to destroy the foundations of real liberty is something against which eternal vigilance should be observed.