TOTALITARIANISM BY
DEFAULT?
(West Union Record – July 29, 1943)
In these recent times, the things we read and hear about in the local and national news can sometimes make our blood run cold. It can be overwhelming to those of us who attempt to understand it all. We sometimes wonder what happened to take us down this scary path. We’ve been hearing about “American Socialism,” and “Communism,” but what about “totalitarianism?” In 1943, it seems the American people were concerned a great deal about this totalitarian form of government and how we as a nation might be in danger of falling under its curse.
“What is totalitarianism”, you ask? “A totalitarian government or totalitarianism is the form of government where the state exerts its power on all aspects of the lives of citizens, thereby limiting all the freedoms. Hence, the power of the state in this type of government is unlimited. Consequently, this form of government requires all the citizens to be completely subservient to the decisions and rules of the state.”
The simple fact is that both totalitarian and authoritarian governments severely limit the people’s individual rights and freedoms. Both types of government are controlled by a single ruler, or a group of elites and it doesn’t sound very enticing to me.
While reading through some of the old newspapers this past week, I found the following article published in the West Union Record in 1943 and was reminded that the more we think we have changed in this nation, the more we stay the same. I felt these wise words were worth sharing with you. I am of the opinion that they ring as true today as they did then. Please remember that there was a World War raging at the time of this publishing:
“SHALL WE GO TOTALITARIAN BY DEFAULT?”
-1943-
“The most critical period for our government is coming after the war. During the few years following the war it will be decided whether our form of government shall be supplanted by an entirely different form of government – probably a totalitarian form of government. If the change shall be made, it will not have been made because of a demand of the people, but it will have been made because of indifference or neglect of the people, because of the failure of the people to guard their liberties. In other words, the change in government will be brought about through default.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. A people who become indifferent in the matter of guarding their liberties, who relax their vigilance, will soon have no liberties to guard. Government is the enemy of liberty. It is constantly trying to encroach upon the domain of liberty. It is always striving to increase its power at the expense of the liberties of the people, and never surrenders any power except grudgingly or when it is forced to do so.
If a people would preserve their liberties, they must be eternally on guard against any encroachment of the enemies of liberty. They cannot afford to take for granted that when once liberty is won it is won forever. The liberty of a people is preserved only so long as the people are vigilant and jealously guard every right and privilege they possess.
If our freedom is lost, it will not have been lost on the battlefield. It will be lost while the people are enjoying peace and very probably abundant prosperity. When the people are prosperous, they are not much concerned about what goes on in Washington. They will submit to much vicious and unjust legislation without a whimper when they are making money and getting plenty to eat and wear.
Another thing to be greatly feared is the fact that millions of American citizens are willing to barter their freedom for economic security; are willing to trade their liberties for three square meals a day or for freedom from all physical needs. They believe the government owes them a living. They believe that the government has an inexhaustible supply of money. They do not realize that all the government has to give away is what the government has taken from the people by means of taxation.
The spirit of self-reliance has been killed in millions of American people, and it has all been done during the past few years. And that spirit of self-reliance which has been killed in millions of people can, in all probability, never be restored to them. They have given up; they are no longer willing to fight as breadwinners like red-blooded brave men; they look to the government for everything.
The number of people who are looking for the government to support them and who are willing to exchange their freedom for economic security is so large as to constitute a grave menace to the welfare of the Republic.
We take pleasure in quoting the following terse and pertinent editorial from the Industrial News Review:
“There is a possibility that this nation may go totalitarian by default. And if that happens, we will see “the beginning of a cycle of tyranny and impoverishment such as other nations have experienced when the individual was superseded by the State.” That is the warning of Eric Johnson, president of the United States Chamber of Commerce.
The danger of America going totalitarian arises from the illusion that government is blessed with an inexhaustible supply of wisdom and cash, which can be drawn on freely without any strings attached to freedom. It is a dangerous illusion, a warped conception of democracy, the result of which has been a staggering growth of bureaucracy, debt, and political domination of private effort. It must be erased before the future can be approached with confidence.
Our republic became great because it has always been a land of individual enterprise. Its people grew strong because they were free and self-reliant. A man who had a good idea and was willing to work to put it into effect, received encouragement and reward, providing he could actually give people something they needed and wanted. Thus, industry was built. Hard work by individuals keeps it going. Our bountiful natural resources – the oil, coal, and metals so vital to victory would still be buried in the ground but for the individuals who were not afraid to take risks and back up those risks with a lot of sweat.
The people of many nations are counting on this country. The men and women of America are literally the last hope for a better civilization. It is inconceivable that, with the tradition of greatness, which is theirs, they will seek to solve their problems by following the same tawdry path of government idolatry that has destroyed civilizations in a large part of the world.”
The author of this article was not listed. Regrettably, after several attempts to ascertain who the author was, I could not. I hope you find this article as interesting as I did.
THIS WEEK IN DODDRIDGE COUNTY HISTORY – 1963
Airman Larry D. Richards, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Richards of Salem, WV was reassigned to Loring AFB in Maine for training and duty as an air policeman. Richards attended Doddridge County High School in West Union.
Miss Ila Baker died at the age of 74. She was born April 12, 1889, on Morganville, Rt. 1, a daughter of the late Hanson and Ida Kester Baker. She was never married and made her home with a brother, Harley Baker on Salem Route.
Army Specialist 4 Duane E. Bever, son of Mrs. Effa Bever, Route1, Greenwood, and other members of the 4th Armored Division’s 35th Armor completed a stay in the field at Grafenwoehr, Germany early in August. The field training included the soldiers’ Annual Training Test (ATT). Sp.4 Bever was a driver for Headquarters Company of the armor’s 1st Medium Tank Battalion in Germany. The 22-year-old soldier attended the Doddridge County High School.
Ronald T Swann, 28, a Huntington civil engineer, was shot and killed. Bill Whitehill was charged with his murder. The Incident was first investigated by Dewey Scott, ambulance driver and assistant at the Casto-Spurgeon Mortuary here. Scott went to the scene after being notified by an anonymous phone call. Upon discovery of the body in the vehicle, he went to the Whitehill home to notify officials and was admitted in order to make a phone call to Coroner Rex Underwood, who then sped to the scene as did Sheriff Ora D. Seese, Deputy Sheriff Oral Moran, and other officials. Soon afterwards, Seese and Morgan took Whitehill into custody.
Fire at Bernard Ahouse property. The West Union Fire Dept. answered a call at 4:30 Thursday morning to the Bernard Ahouse property located on Greenwood Hill. It was reported that damage was done to outbuildings and facilities rather than the Ahouse home.
Carr School announced a community Fair to be held on Sept 14, 1963. The community of Big Flint were invited to show antique and garden exhibits as well as craft and canned good displays. Food was to be on sale and exhibitors were urged to make their entries early in the day. The fair was to run from noon until time for a talent show in the evening.
Walnut and Hickory Nut Competition Oct. 10-12 – The best black walnuts and hickory nuts in WV were being sought as entrants in the 5th Annual Little Kanawha Regional Nut Tree Contest to have been held in conjunction with the WV Black Walnut Festival at Spencer on Oct. 10-12, 1963. The sponsors of the contest included WVU College of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension Service, the Little Kanawha Regional Council, the WV Dept. of Agriculture, and the WV Black Walnut Festival.
Need For School Levy Extension Discussed – The special school levy, which was approved by the citizens in May, 1961 was to expire the following June 30th. The Board discussed the need for an extension of the special levy. It was obvious that a continuation of the levy would be necessary in order to maintain a good program of education in the county and provide the services to the schools that had been provided which were believed essential to continue. A definite program for another three-year period was not adopted at that time, because the development of a sound plan required both time and thought and should also take into account the views of school and lay people. It was the opinion of the Board that a special levy election should be held in the fall of that year, probably in November, as our school budget was prepared in the month of March; formerly the budget was prepared in August.
Births were: Beth Ann Davis was born on Aug. 31 to Mr. and Mrs. James S. Davis of West Union. Phillip Matthew Hart was born on Aug. 30 to Mr. and Mrs. Herman J Hart of Oxford. Tonia Rene Landers was born on Aug. 26 to Mr. and Mrs. Harry E Landers of Smithburg. Angela Quinn McCullough was born on Aug. 26 to Mr. and Mrs. John McCullough of Parkersburg. Tammy Michele Depitro was born on Aug 18th to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Depitro of Wheeling.
After receiving such a great response to the advertisements of yesteryear that I added in an earlier article, I thought our readers might enjoy another one from 1963.
God Bless
Patricia Richards Harris
Doddridge County Historical Society