TOPICS OF THE DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20921, 28 September 1939, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY

Dictators Should Read History “As a democrat, I do not admit that the authoritarian system of government is justified, because it is a travesty of government and nothing else. Because it is a travesty it cannot endure. I believe also that the leaders of authoritarian Governments can never be the real leaders of a human universal and Christian morality, of a real human education and erudition. The judgment of history has already condemned the dictatorial system of government, and it has also condemned its leaders. The events of the next years in Europe and in the world will show to the present generations if this judgment of history was right. My scientific conviction is that this judgment was right. I see, then, which system—dictatorship or democracy is, in my opinion, morally, socially and politically superior. That is why I stand behind democracy and defend it from conviction, and shall defend it to the end of my life. Democracy cannot die because of the nature of human life and the human soul. There never existed a society where the fight for freedom and the development of the free human personality ceased. In the darkest period of history this fight continued, continues today and will be continued until the new victory of freedom will come again.—Dr. Benes, ex-President of Czechoslovakia.