Time to bring back good politicians

Vox Pop

MaryChaseSmithwastheRepublican senator from Maine in 1950 and the only woman in the U.S. Senate.

She defined her party, the Republican Party, as the “champion of unity and prudence.” She placed the party in the line of Abraham Lincoln.

On June 1 of that year, she gave a speech to the Senate which had been titled her “Declaration of Conscience.” In the speech she said Americans should possess the following: “The right to hold unpopular beliefs.”

“Right to protect” “Right of independent thought.”

And she added “The exercise of these rights should not cost one single American citizen his reputation or his right to a livelihood, nor should he be in danger of losing his reputation or livelihood merely because he happens to know someone who holds unpopular beliefs.” Those remarks are quoted from Time magazine.

These words were directed at another Republican, Sen. Joseph McCarthy, senator from Wisconsin. McCarthy was on a witch hunt for American communists.

This is from the March 16 issue of Time magazine, page 76. For those who don’t know and for those who are afraid to know, the issue is devoted to 100 accomplished women from throughout the world who did in almost all things, well things.

She also stated, “I don’t want to see the Republican party rise to victory on the four horses of calumny.”

Let me describe calumny from “The New Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language.” It is a large dictionary, my copy was published in 1952. While quite old, I would think it still speaks well for itself.

Back to calumny, page 115, listed and described under calumniate, “Calumny, false accusation of a crime or offenses, knowingly or malicious made or reported, to the injury of another; a defamatory or slanderous report; slander; defamation.”

To finish her statement, “I don’t want to see the Republican Party rise to victory of calumny: fear, ignorance, bigotry and smear.”

At that time she was speaking about and at a fellow Republican. I think very much it could apply to some Republicans (and some Democrats) of today.

It appears she was 70 years early or maybe she should be here to repeat those words. Why don’t all these good, decent Republicans, and there are many, back their support away from this American tragedy in the White House, which we have had for the last three plus years.

Drain the swamp, bring back the good, decent Republicans and Democrats. Start with the White House. — Walter Tomczyk, Dorchester.