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A CRISIS CONFRONTS THE NATION “A grave crisis now confronts us as a nation—a crisis which threatens the very structure of our government, the continuance of our democratic institutions and our liberties as a people. “We face one of the most serious situations in our whole history—a situation which involves our religious liberties as well as our civil liberties, for a!] experi- ence shows that these two stand or fall together. “We see clearly today what happens when a nation surreuders its freedom and becomes subject to absolute executive power. “T refer to the proposals now made by the President in regard to the Supreme Court of the United States. “There can be no democracy, no constitutional government without an in- dependent judiciary. ; “In such a situation we are called as citizens, and as Christians, to take our atand and declare ourselves unhesitatingly.” =-The Rr. Rev. WILLIAM T. MANNING, Protestant Episcopal Bishop of New York, ix his dsh Wednesday sermon delivered tn historic Trinity Church. ““ PRESIDENT OR DICTATOR? ” “The President’s motives are in no sense an issue here; let it be conceded thet they are most laudable. But his plan is the most dangerous attack in all our history upon the government established by the Constitution. “Whenever the independence of the judiciary is destroyed, the dictator aseumes control. » “When one man controls the three coordinate and independent departments of the Government, there is no protection for our God-given rights except in an appeal to his clemency. “That is not the Government established by our liberty-loving fathers. It is not the Government, we believe, that is desired today by a majority of the American eople. P “Tf Mr. Roosevelt is convinced that his policies alone will save the country, let him appeal to the people in the manner prescribed by the Constitution, and on their authority alone vest himself with authority to make laws for the whole country, to interpret them with finality, and to execute them rigorously. “We concede to no man the right to initiate a program which by act of Congress would destroy the constitutional Government of the United States.” ~—Editorials in “AMERICA,” nationally-reed “Catholic Review ef the Freeh” AWAKE BEFORE IT 1S TOO LATE! “I hesitate to discuss anything in the the pulpit that savors of partisan politica, and still less do I wish to deal in personalities, But the provocation now is too great and the matter, moreover, is above party. “The future of democratic government in America is at stake. Some people may be so blind as not to see that fact. Let us hope they will awake to this danger te their liberties before it is too late. “There is one great barrier between us and dictatorship, and that barrier is the Supreme Court. Now the President wants that court placed in his hands. The Amer- ican people should say ‘No! to him in a tone that will never be forgotten. Th should aay, ‘This far, Mr. President, shall you go and no farther.’ The terrible trmth is, it can happen bere; in fact, it almost has happened here. “Fascism in essence is established in America the minute this Supreme Court bill passes, for it places dictatorial power in the President. That means that slowly but surely civil liberties will tend to go. Religious liberties will next be attacked if we are to judes 4 the progress of dictatorships eleewhere.” ( rratertent eherch tn the United Bia. be Poe, . _ are 7 fy chars: t fa ae, . is nationally Enowen , . hit weekly NBC broadcasts on “The drt of Usinne ne a ; . “ne ri “tre ember ef important commissions af the Federal Council of Charched The Rev. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES, minister of the Community Church a LITA NT Forum in New York City, noted liberal friend ef hobon psa ay Church and . U 1 o H + LIBERAL stitutional Government” rganization of the National Committee to Uphold Con- ENLISTS ind am with you absolutely in your opposition to the President's P al. An ir Ione Conn oudiciary is vital to democracy, and if it is lost, democracy Hself me to help in every way that may be possible.”