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Show WHAT GOVERNMENT IS BETTER THAN OURS? Critics of the Ameriican form of goyemment, who have grown more numerous and vocal than usual during the last five years, might find it easier to convince the American people peo-ple that revolutionary change is necessary if it were not for the sad example of the old continent. There, since the war, almost every conceivable governmental govern-mental "ism" has been tried. With the exception of a few countries, democracy has been thrown overboard as being worthless and outmoded. And here are some of the results: Italy is under the rule of an iron-handed dictator who has abrogated freedom of speech, freedom of action and freedom of the press; party government has ceased to exist. Under his direction, it is true, great material progress has been made at the expense of almost all the individual and corporate cor-porate liberties for which the great Italian liberators fought. Germany exists under a similar, but much more ruthless dictatorship. Party government has disappeared when election time comes, the German people have the "privilege" of voting either "yes' or "no" on the proposition of whether they like the present Reich-leader or not. Those who may vote "no" are very likely to find themselves dispossessed residents of concentration camps before another week rolls around. Newspapers may publish nothing without governmental govern-mental permission and the slightest criticism of the existing exist-ing regime is sufficient to cause the suspension of the publi-, publi-, cation and imprisonment of its editors. In Russia, a still different "ism" obtains, but conditions are even more intolerate there than in Germany. A ruthless secret police has thousands of spies at work in the country and anyone who expresses disapproval of the Stalin government govern-ment may soon begin the long trek to Siberian forests or face the firing squad. .The list could be continued, but these examples will serve to show the so-called "improvements" on democratic government that have been inaugurated in the Old World. One wonders what those who scoff at fundamental Americanism Ameri-canism Would like to give us in exchange for it. National Republic. . |