REPUBLICANS: The Judgment of Johnson

Almost legendary among U. S. political mistakes is the famed 1916 boner pulled by Candidate Charles Evans Hughes: in California he forgot to shake the hand of Hiram Johnson, thus lost Johnson, California, and the election. Candidate Wendell Willkie took no chances on his California tour (TIME, Sept. 30). Overlooking Senator Johnson’s entrenched conservatism. his utter isolationism, Candidate Willkie praised the Senator where he thought it would do the most good—in California.

Last week 74-year-old Hiram Johnson, who had no able opposition for his own fifth-term this year, reciprocated in an old-fashioned classic oration, which clearly stated his belief that a crisis greater than world revolution was Term III.

Cried he: “This is the greater crisis and perhaps is more far-reaching than any other, for it may mean the preservation of the earth’s last fortress of democracy. . . . Power is a heady wine. Few human brains can resist it, and certainly there has been no evidence, or even desire of resistance in the gentleman who seeks it now. He has gathered unto himself more power than any ruler on earth has, save in the totalitarian governments. . . .

“All of the forebodings of Washington, Jefferson and Jackson are fulfilled and justified. . . .

“Some love it so much that power is never gladly or voluntarily surrendered.

Such men, while they realize that some day their power must be laid down, can always find a reason why the fatal day must be postponed. In their minds there is always a crisis in which their services are indispensable. Always some great work at hand which they, and they alone, can do. Outwardly, they pretend that they groan under the burden and would be glad to lay it down, but in their secret souls they cling to their places. . . . The friends and sycophants of the incumbent . . .constantly assure their chief that the public good demands that he should not desert the ship. This . . . sweet music that is a curse of kings. . . .

“Upon all matters I do not agree with Messrs. Willkie and McNary in this campaign, but they are eternally right upon the great issue, and the all-important one: a third term. Thrice armed is he whose cause is just. Fear not. Fight on.

“We have become soft and soggy with temporary abundance. Even the enormous debt stirs only the few. We are satisfied with a promised security, unearned and easy. Our thoughts teem with greed and every man for himself. May I say that is not the American way. Our country was not founded upon those ideas, but by striving and toiling and saving and building—a unity among men with a definite goal—America.

“So when we come to the judgment seat how shall we answer for our precious country, for the preservation of its pristine glory, for the protection of the liberties of our citizens? Shall we answer, trembling? ‘We had not the courage because the power was great and overwhelming, millions upon millions on the other side and we fell before them,’—or shall we answer thus, and say? ‘We stood up like brave men and fought the good fight, and with the aid of God we won it.’ God bless and save America.”