THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 58, 23 March 1943, Page 4

THE VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

ALL who heard the broadcast by the Nation's great war leader, the Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill, must have warmed with him in his review of the great events of the-world to-day and his able planning* for post-war problems as he envisiaged them. The greatness of this grand Englishman is enhanced by his great humility and unswerving allegiance to jmain principles of Democracy. Who but a leader such as he could bring himself to thank the English people for their faith in his leadership and the privilege of being elected to so great an honour. Compare this attitude with the brazen bombast of Hitler, the self-complacent emptiness of Mussolini or the heavy threatening arrogance of Tojo. Here we have the voice of a national patriot eager and willing to serve his country, ready if need be to cheerfully lay down his life in the cause most sacred to his heart, yet withal prepared to stand down in obedience to the democratic rules of the nation, should his countrymen deem it in the best interests that some new leader should take his place. Against his forceful honesty of expression we have the effesescent thunderings and platitudes from the radios of Dictatordom. From start to finish the whole theme of their discourses is one of blatant selfcentredness and scorching invective against the Democracies, We have seen in the past the unbridled assurance and cruelty that can infect the voice of Germany's ruler when his legions are sweeping all before them. We can still recall the ponderous threats issued by Hermann Goering prior to the 'spectacle of the ages,'—the invasion of Britain. We can remember* the blareing from Italy's ruler when Fascist soldiery swarmed over unoffending Abyssinia and Albania. All these things occurred in the heyday of the Dictorships regime; all these things were the result of flagrant bullying and international treachery the like of which had never been known in the world before. To-day with the tables turned we have also become accustomed to the scream of rage and hatred emanating from the same sources as the countries of oppression are paid back in their own coin. The thundering of the Nazi radio as the R.A.F. rips deeper and deeper into the heart of Germany is second only to the wailing of the Italian broadcasts. "Ye shall reap as ye. shall sow," is a biblical extract which has fulfilled an unfailing human law throughout the centuries and is applicable to nations as it is to individuals. Hitler"s Germany to-day is reaping the bitter harvest so insidiously sown by sponsors of the Nazi regime, and as the bully is ever the loudest in his wails when struck in return so the hysterical denunciations from Goebbels radio can be taken as but a prelude to the chorus of woe which will greet the forthcoming invasion of the European mainland and the intensification of the Russian offensive when that great blow is struck. In reviewing Germany's plight to-day we. like the great Churchill himself are minded of the bitter days of anguish, when Britain herself, practically devoid of arms faced alone the maddened war-dogs of Europe and in words of our inspired leader could be promised a future of blood, sweat and tears.