The Wilmington Morning Star

Advance Endorsement
The attitude of President Roosevelt, as revealed in his address on Saturday night had an advance endorsement in a surprisingly frank announcement by Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University and of the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace.
Doctor Butler was making his report for the fund. In his recognition that the war now central in Europe is not local to that continent and that the immediate need is for speed in defense of democracy, his words are closely aligned with the President's.
"From the point of view of an American," he wrote, "it can only once more be repeated that to speak of this war as a European war is childish." To describe it as something from which the American government and the American people may and should remain aloof and isolated is worse than stupidity. "It is suicidal."
At this time the world-wide struggle between "this violent reaction and the forward facing philosophy of a truly modern and progressive civilization hangs in the balance."
We have not been quick to recognize what was going on in the world, but the day for action has arrived, and we all know it. Doctor Butler puts it this way:
Unfortunately the democracies have been very slow to recognize the significance and the character of the attack being made upon those fundamental principles which are their foundation. Now, however, they are coming to recognize that this new invasion is directed at all of them, wherever they are, whether in Europe, in Asia, or in the Americas. The object of the so-called New Order is specifically declared to displace that social, economic, and political liberty which has been so widely established during the past 300 years and so highly acclaimed by the leaders of the world's thought.
Democracy does not mean perpetual discussion and debate. It also means action. If democracy does nothing but debate, then the Goths, the Huns and the Vandals will take care that something really happens when it will be too late for the democracies successfully to resist. Democracy must choose its leaders, men responsible to it, but given for the time being that full power and official responsibility which is needed for leadership in such a crisis as now exists. Unless these fundamental principles and facts can be grasped and acted upon, the democracies will find the door closed not only to their advance but to their continued existence.