DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL

Certain professors at Harvard and Princeton, unable to go on teaching undergraduates about continental political systems which have been goose-stepped out of Europe, are now using their courses to squelch any "for tomorrow we die" attitude and replace it by a rediscovery of the worth of democratic institutions.

Harvard's French F and German F, which used to offer cultural appreciation in the form of descriptions of a Cook's Tour from Paris to Versailles, or the geography of the Austrian Alps, have turned to questioning the more pertinent particulars of the fall of France and the rise of fascism. Now Princeton's Department of Politics has announced that it will give courses analyzing the factors that lead to war, and "educating young men for participation in the ceaseless effort to make democracy work."

This change is more than a compromise to bring certain college courses up to date. It marks an attitude which did not exist on the eve of the last war. Then, we took the worth of democracy for granted, and looked forward to cleaning up the world and giving every nation the advantages of our institutions. We looked forward with unquestioning assurance to the contemplation of glorious triumph. The war was an end in itself. And afterwards? Why worry; peace on earth would follow. Now we are faced with a force which has proved its strength against what we thought were some of the most healthy democratic states. Democracy can no longer afford to take itself for granted. We must honestly compare our system with others. If we are to support the side of democracy with our arms and ammunitions; if we are to have any say in the peace treaty; then we must honestly, coldly, critically analyze what democracy stands for, be aware of its benefits and defects, and not forget to remember them.