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AWARD COHEN
The Wallace Candidacy
The possibility of George Wal-
lace becoming President of the
United States in 1968 is remote,
but there is always 1972 and
1976 and if there is a parallel
here with the rise of Hitler in
Germany it is worth considering.
There is no implication that
the Alabama demagogue is an-
other Hitler, but the times and
the mood may be setting the
scene. If not today, tomorrow.
The violence and rioting in the
slums and on many college cam-
puses are the prelude to change
in our American society and,
much as we might deplore it
from our middle-class sanctuary,
recognition that such change is
necessary will help ease the tran-
sition.
The challenge is whether or
not the revolution will be accom-
plished under our democratic sys-
tem, flawed as It might be, or
be thwarted by a fascist coup. I
don't believe I'm exaggerating
the danger.
Politics used to be our "na-
tional clown show," some one
has written. But today it seems
to have become an ugly confron-
tation between armies of oppos-
ing haters and, if it keeps going
that way, we're doomed.
Politics in Germany in the late
*20s was like thisoften pitched
battles between the Communists
and Nazisand who is to say
that the New Left won't support
Wallace on the theory that things
have to get worse before they get
better? The Communists, remem-
ber, refuse to support the middle-
of-the-road Social Democrats in
order to defeat Hitler in 1933.
A year ago we could say with
some conviction that rightist
groups in this country were
v/pakfi Ihftn i'vit before I" the
Dududices. their fears and their
Many a "nice" liberal il K"i"K
to be involved in the tumult.
1 share the frustration of many
in this country with a selection
process that seems to close the
door to the presidency to anyone
but Nixon. Humphrey and Wal-
lace, but the fury and abuse and
disruptive tactics of many of Ku-
genc McCarthy's supporters serve
only to subvert and not to en-
lighten.
It would seem to he time now
for those of us who call ourselves
liberal" or "left" (old style) to
recognize how close we are to
losing what is left of our democ
racv and how deep the threat is
to our nation.
Surely, being passionate about
our domestic and foreign policy
does not strip us of the need to
be more responsible than the de
luded right. Anger need not be
hatred and rage at injustice is
legitimate; violence is destruc-
tive
George Wallace has become
the rallying noint tor the worst
elements in American society.
The Republican and Democratic
choices this year may not be the
most palatable, the most progres-
sive, the least warlike, but at
least they will be stripped of any
obligation to the extremes of the
right and left and will be free to
deal with them in a democratic
structure This may be the least
of three evils for some, but it
would he a tragic disregard of
history not to rate the Wallace
candidacy a threat which could
be fatal to us.
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