FALLEN IDOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23994, 18 June 1941, Page 9

FALLEN IDOL

LINDBERGH'S ECLIPSE CAMPAIGN AGAINST WAR UNPOPULAR WITH AMERICANS nv r.oN .tones I,OS ANGELES, June 1 There is nothing quite so tragic as the fall of a popular hero, and that fa to appears to have overtaken Charles Lindbergh, once hailed as the "Lone Eagle'' and undoubtedly America's greatest modern hero in terms of public idolatry. Lindbergh is no longer a reserve colonel in the United States Army Air Corps. He resigned that.'coveted rank recently when President. Roosevelt attacked him bitterly for his attitude in tho present war and left him no other course. * The President, when asked why Lindbergh had not been called to the colours in these times of emergency, likened tho colonel to the Vallandighams of the Civil War period. He explained that the Vallandighams got their name from Clement Laird Yalfandigham, a Congressman from 'IBSB to 186.'!, who opposed the Civil War as unnecessary and unconstitutional.

Army History Made Vallandigham denounced the Government of tfio day bitterly and became the leader of the "copperheads." a group of appeasers and isolationists. He believed that neither side could win. His extreme opposition led to his arrest and finally to his banishment to the south. There is a difference, however, between Lindbergh and Yallandighant. Lindbergh believes onlv that one side cannot win—Rritain. He is preaching up and down the land that (Jermany is invincible and that no amount of American aid can save England from defeat.

The fact that Lindbergh's resignation was accepted made history in the United States Army. His was the first resignation of a reserve commission the Army has ever accepted in time of emergency. Thus Lindbergh, the man who flew the Atlantic alone and had become something of an export on aviation affairs, fell from grace. Bitterly Anti-British

Lindbergh has become bitterly antiBritish. lie has become the spiritual head of the isolationists and is preaching night after night that Britain is doomed and nothing can save her. He is urging the people to oppose further aid to England and. more particularly, America's cntrv into the war.

It, is very significant that he confines his public addresses to such cities as New York. Chicago, St. Louis and Milwaukee, all of which have large numbers of German and Italian residents. In other words, lie assures himself of sympathetic audiences. A Choice of Audiences T have listened closely to several of his radio addresses, and every utterance against Britain is cheered to the echo, while every mention of the President is roundly booed. This means that Lindbergh's audiences are not real, patriotic American-:, but German and Italian immigrants who still have their roots in their fatherlands. Newspapers have berated Lindbergh for allowing the President's name to be booed without making protest. Such incidents are not winning the ex-colonel new friends by any means, and to-day few people would dare to say that they agree with him. His name has become synonymous with anti-Americanism, in spite of the fact that he is sponsored by tin so-called "America First Committee."