APRIL 25, 1934

Wasn't there something a little silly about that "freedom" petition carried by a delegation of Lexington, Mass., citizens to the doors of Congress on the anniversary of the battle of Lexington in protest against "unreasonable interference" by the national government in the affairs of a "free people?"

There is no King George or red coated soldiers on our doorsteps. Nobody has yet interfered seriously with the right of the average man and woman to do as he or she pleases. There is no high-blown tyranny at work crushing out the freedom of the people.

The right to criticize is open to every citizen in the land, and beyond doubt there is much going on in Washington to inspire criticism. But nothing has happened, or can happen, without the "consent of the governed." The New Deal philosophy came into power because a majority of the people voted it there; it can stay in power no longer than the people permit it. The way back is just as plainly marked as the way ahead.

Walter Lippmann wrote the other day about the "vested emotional interests" of our people which keep them pulling in many different directions. So long as these vested emotional interests exist there is not much chance of a despotism getting control of the country. On the other hand, these emotional complexities do lead us occasionally into bursts of melodrama that have not much to do with a serious understanding of national affairs.