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Show Washington Comment i Nothing would suit the purpose of the Democratic party better j than to have its strongest and I most feared opponent assume the j role of the aged grandfather, ; whose chief business is to sit quietly in the chimney corner, looking with sadness, cheerful approval, or resignation upon the doings of an active world in which he no longer has a part. The Democrats cannot rid the country of Republicans. The next best thing is an attempt to persuade the Republicans to efface themselves them-selves by becoming Democrats. Although so far as the electoral vote is concerned, the "drafted" candidate crashed his way into a third term, atop of a movement having some of the characteristics of a landslide, there was a warning warn-ing in the popular vote that made the Democrats shake in their shoes during the very moment when they were manifesting outward signs of a confidence in the future which the heart did not harbor. For the first time in many years, there was in the sky a cloud of such proportions and density that within its shadow the light was dim and the air chilling. An effort ef-fort may well be made to discourage discou-rage and win over the Republican party! It is an antagonist of waxing wax-ing and menacing strength, as New Dealism knows and knows to its discomfort. Now there is nothing essentially dishonorable in attempting to secure se-cure the good will of an opponent by a pacific approach. Such an advance ad-vance becomes shameful only when its resources . are subtilty and de-eeit. de-eeit. It is proper, therefore, to examine somewhat closely the means and the. motives that promote pro-mote wrhat ostensibly is a benign gesture in the way of extending the olive branch. The consummation devoutly to be wished is alleged to be national unity, the inaugural ceremonies being made a great three-day festival, during which that concept con-cept will be emphasized. To the suggestion that national unity be strengthened, and that a revival of the old time spirit is necessary, the Republicans shout a hearty amen. There is reason to believe that the unity desired by administration admin-istration forces is simply one in which there will be an utter absence ab-sence of a wholesome political opposition. When that hour comes, Hitlerism will have arrived. The unity sought is a unity in which the Republican party is a tail to the Democratic kite. The craft that is behind the unity procedure is obvious, and beyond the power of scorn and contempt to condemn adequately. If the Republican party falls for it without reservations, that party is doomed. If the party fails to give cheap and noisy support, (Continued on iast paer) Washington Comment (Continued from first page) without making its position clear, the way is open for the soap box orator. It will be alleged that the administration is confronted by an opponent whose creed is division, divi-sion, feeble national defense, and destruction of one of' the few sound governments wherewith the globe still stands blessed. The Republican party nevertheless neverthe-less feels that it is faced by no dilemma that is beyond its power to handle. It stands in no danger of being derailed at the switch al-j al-j though its tenets and its accom- plishments have been on the side of every good and perfect work. That course will be continued during dur-ing time to come, especially during dur-ing the next four years, which j promise to be dismal enough. If i perfection has been reached dur-1 ing the past two administrations, and if the leaders in the opposi- i tion to the policies of those administrations ad-ministrations are no more than j wolves in the clothing of sheep, i the vote of the millions who form-j ed a dangerous minority in the election is a poor compliment to ' the intelligence of the American electorate. 1 So far as the immediate future is concerned, Mr. Willkie and those who followed him through a hard-fought campaign in support of a worthy cause, can do little more than keep the watch-fire burning on the hilltops. That alone is a service, which is neither menial men-ial nor worthless. |