SOCIALISM AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
259
rmor plate. The great CIO unions in steel, coal, automobiles, and
ther basic industries, which a year ago were passing anti-war
esolutions, are being eased by their leaders into the national
efense camp. Since May 10, the corporal's guard of left intel–
ectuals who stuck to an anti-war position has been reduced to
icroscopic dimensions. Opportunist left politicians like Norman
fP.omas and Jay
Lov~estone
have grown steadily more articulate
bout the horrors of fascism and steadily less so about those of
emocratic capitalism-protesting all the while of course that,
herever their feet seem to be taking them, their hearts are still in
he highlands of socialism. The Trotskyist movement-both wings
f
it-is the only significant political gr-oup which holds firm to
revolutionary antiwar line.*
_As I have already indicated, I am not at all satisfied with the
nalysis of the war and of the nature of the totalitarian states held
o by the Trotskyists-and other "orthodox" Marxists. I do agree,
owever, that the victory of fascism over here is assured unless the
resent democratic capitalist system is replaced by a democratic
ialist government of the workingclass.
The grossest illusion of all is that it will be
possible, under capitalism, to defend Ameri–
can democracy by democratic means. The lib–
eral weeklies, with their customary zeal in
'ving the ruling class "realistic" advice, are constantly admonish–
g Roosevelt that effective defense means an extension rather
a contraction of the social program of the New Deal. They
e much cheered by Roosevelt's assurances that not a hair of the
ew Deal program will be touched. But words are one thing,
'ons another. And even as he has protested his devotion to the
'dest democracy, Roosevelt has, since the blitzkrieg struck two
onths ago, led a retreat towards reaction of vast and terrifying
portions.
Not so long ago the left was talking hopefully of a third
. Today there are not even two parties. The Democrats have
..
MYe
Mid
nothinc of
the
Stalini1t1
becauee,
althouch
by
far the bicceat antiwar croup in the
coun·
•eir
stand ia only a reflection of So't'iet foreicn policy.
If
it
suit• the Kremlin'• intere.ta, they will
become the moat •iolent
aupporten
of the Rooeevelt national defente procram, jutt at they
ap to the Stalin-Hitler pact. Their fake "re.,olutionary" propaganda compromitea the whole ficht
1M real
thiq
and ia a
hie
factor, here u in France, in demoralizinc and confuainc the workinc·
Such "allie." were better on the enemy'• aide- and, indeed, they aeem. to be
edcinc
over in that
Iince
Stalin
ha1 become alarmed at the completene11 of Hitler'• victory.
