I Nixon, Lodge In The White House This editorial

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Nixon, Lodge In The White House

This editorial should not have to be written. But in several instances The Courier has been criticized for taking a stand last week proposing the ejection of the Republican ticket of Nixon and Lodge. On the other hand we have been pleased to learn that other sources have been complimentary in our choice and what some have termed “courage" of making that choice in a so-called Democratic stronghold.

We do not feel that “courage" has anything to do with making a decision as to a presidential nominee’s selection. In a free country where freedom of speech and thought are still exercised, it seems too bad that some people have tried to stifle us in writing our thoughts on one of the tnoet important problems of our country—that of electing a President in such critical times as we are facing today. We have received one letter, anonymous, condemning us in no uncertain terms for our stand in supporting Nixon. We would print it, but'since it is not signed, we can only term the writer a coward for not signing his rffime. Normally, we pay no attention to anonymous letters for they are worthless pieces of paper in which the writer takes protection behind anonimity to castigate and comdemn.

So long as people stick to party ties without thought of the candidate, his ability, his record, his integrity so long will we continue to choose second rate people m our halls of government.

we bare no quarrel with Mr. Kennedy or Mr. Johnson, and we have no quarrel with the millions of people «who are supporting them. They have every right to express their opinions at the polls and elsewhere. The Courier should be accorded that same right. We do not hold that within,our ivory tower we are immune to criticism; we welcome it. But we want honest criticism.

The Courier has always supported the Democratic ticket up through the first two terms of Roosevelt. But we couldn’t stomach anymore of his New Deal or Truman's Fair Deal. We want no more of Roosevelt’s Yalta or Truman’s Potsdam meetings in which Europe was cut up and pieced off to Russia. Indeed had there been no Yalta or Potsdam agreements how much better off we would have been in our foreigrn relations. We are supporting Nixon and Lodge because we believe they are the beat qualified men for the job that lies ahead. They have had the experience that goes with high public office; they are informed on problems of military and foreign affairs; they are vigorous in their zeal for serving in public office; they understand the problems of every department in the executive branch and are sympathetic to the problems of the average person. So while we consider ourselves as an independent Democrat we are not hidebound by party ties. One of these days men and women who are more visionary and hold the truths of freedom

I to be self-evident will break what political ties they have to embrace a political ideology where a candidate is considered on the merits of his virtues and talents. The Roosevelt and Truman Administrations lured us to almost economic death. They painted an Utopian picture of ease and plenty and freedom from almost everything including work and thrift, implying that it will materialize in some manner if America will but follow them. From the Democratic platform endorced by Kennedy and Johnson, we can see no relief or difference from this grotesque and colossal economic menace which claims it is everything to everybody.

(Reprinted from The Clarke Courier)