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mM © Uangerous Lullaby sta crackpot revolutionary’ plant “a ts MAG in Washington and light the fuse te> 6» 2 considered dangerous to American institutr-ne 's there greater danger in one who. plots suct } ‘ersion as conqueres hut carefully refrains from lighting a fuse Prematurely? These are the questions, as we seeit, Put bei the United States Supreme Court'by thé“American . Liberties Union recently. The“A U, sai Fy ions of Communist fem any “clear and present” danger to them. These American institutions, the ACLU argued, “have so well and so consistently demonstrated their effectiveness in meeting Ordinary needs, as well as d the satellite countries of kurupe. ” withstanding thetremendous impact. of-two-world-wars, a devastating depression, and the continuing challenge of world-wide unrest, their stability and permanence would seem to be virtually unassailable...” The “clear and present danger” doctrine is a recog- nized part of American law, but it is scarcely at home | in this argument. What the ACLU is saying, in effect, is that since the Communists cannot hope for success in taking over the American Rovernment. we ought to let them try without interference. If we followed that toad. we should never sec danger with the naked eve until it was too late. - The importance of the ACLU Jattitude, Points more in another direction. Next to subversion itself, the greatest danger this country can face is an altitude by its People and officials that our way of life is so well established, nothing needs be done to Protect it Once we begin to believe that some magic power makes our institutions “unassailable.” and that we need put in no effort to safeguard them from internal ero- ston, then we're on the way to losing them. Except for that eternal vigilance which is the price of liberty, we could awake some morning to find not \ cen a pretense Jeft of the things we thought were so. i strong and Permanent. Freedom can be lost in war, but 't is more often sold, given away or slept away however, The doctrine of “unassailable” institutions induces a dager. Ous sleep. We cannot afford to accept it. . . \ tte? Cheba CRUDOR DED” 76DEC 12 1955 The Tndtanapolts Tndt anarot+s, Th itena November 24, Catena. Star 1 ich Cc. Gite, 7 : \ ; : \