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3) In this section of the country we have never had much confidence in the Government of the Republic of Mexico. To us, South American Governments seem equally unreliable. They will take all the credits we give them and then double-cross us. South Americans are not followers of abstract ideals—they are realists. Therefore, any lasting solidarity between North and South America is an impractical dream—unless we take a leaf from Hitler's book and go in for conquest or domination. The only sensible and practical course that remains for us as a nation is to stop throwing mud and epithets and try to get along with Germany, at least until we have actually built up our defenses to the point where we can back up our words with something more than meaningless blusterings. Just because we believe in applying to our nation the old and extremely sound doctrine of "Put up or shut up," does that make us "Isolationists"?
4) There exists strong sentiment in this part of the country toward making friends with Japan on the same basis. Whatever may have been our idealistic notions a while ago, we cannot save China. Japan knew that we could not do so. A realistic view of the present situation would indicate that a cessation of fighting would save more lives and prevent further useless destruction. Does it make any practical difference to us who owns the rubber and the tin, provided we can trade with the owner? If we do not like the owner, then again the only argument worth making is still an argument that can be backed up by force.
5) Lindbergh may not be exactly right in everything, but in this section of the country it is believed that those who are falling over themselves in their zeal to criticize him are either selfishly inspired or victims of impractical "idealism" and propaganda. We believe that a policy which results in extending war to the whole world will not save Democracy but destroy it forever.
6) Whether we like it or not, the time for talking in terms of abstract idealism is past. This is not cowardice or isolationism, but simply a realistic facing of the facts as they now exist. To the people of the Rocky Mountain west, Democracy means after all mainly the preservation of our own personal freedom and our homes. We cannot get along without the rest of the world and we know it, but we fail to see that we cannot try to adapt ourselves to a changing world and still keep our own faith in those particulars which are important. We resent the term "Isolationist" as typical of the "weasel words" used by crooked politicians, for we are trying to be "Realists" as opposed to those whose thinking is based upon a possibly outmoded European setup. We are not Pros for anything except our own general scheme of Democracy, and we see no sense in those who apparently wish us to bite off our nose to spite our face.
ARTHUR N. PACK
Abiquiu, N. Mex.