RELATIVE QUTESCENCE ON WITCH-HUNT FRONT IN U.S..
By George Novack
There has been some apprehension among defenders of’ democratic rights, both in the United States and abroad, that the rising opposition among the American people to involvement in the ‘Vietnamese civil wax will call. forth a resurgence of McCarthyism. This is not a groundless danger and it may come at a later point in the conflict. But up to now surprisingly little steam has been generated. by the witch-hunt ing patrioteers.
If the powers that be had been disposed to launch another rabid offensive against” American radicalism, they deliberately passed up ‘a ready-made pretext for that purpose when Kennedy was killed in November 1964. The circumstances surrounding the’ assassination of the American president contained all the ingre- “dients necessary for a‘frame-up in which the supporters of the Soviet Union and’the Cuban Revolution might have~ been pinned with "political and moral responsibility" for ‘the deed.
Instead, the State Department, either for reasons of foreign policy or for fear of unleashing emotions with incalculable and uncontrollable consequences at home, ‘decided only ‘two hours after the shooting in Dallas te head off and soft= pedal charges that agents of ‘Gastroism and Communism were behind the affair. The news media were advised to describe'it as the act of a lone individual. Ultraright efforts to whip up » lynch sentiment against the "reds" feli flat.
So far, official quarters have beén rather restrained in their attitude toward the antiwar forces. [It is well known that all ‘the radical tendencies’ participate. in “one or another sector of the opposition to the’ "dirty war" in Vietnam. Except for the moderate’ liberal- -pacifist wing headed by Sané (National Committee “for a Sane Nuclear Policy), the antiwar organizations practice — nonexclusion as to mémbérship and admit ali groups and individuals regardless of political beliefs or affiliations.
The three-man delegation whi¢h visited Prague, Moscow, Peking and Hanoi during the bombing pause to seek clarification on the negotiation issue included Herbert Aptheker, the .foremost. Communist party theoretician. The other two were Staughton Lynd, professor of history at Yale university and Thomas Hayden, one of the founders of the Students for a lemocratic Society. - Although Yale alumni sought to have Lynd dismissed from his’ gob; and possible indictments on severai counts hang over their heads, the trio were not virulently red-baited upon their return.
The pro-Moscow Communists, relieved by a recent ruling of the Supreme Court that the party and its members are not required to register or incur extreme penalties because of their views or
political ties, have ‘been more-active publicty than at any time Since : the start of ‘the Korean War in- 1950.
oe Je. “Bdgar’ ‘Hoover ; head. of America's secret political poliée, the FBI, issues: periodic. ‘warnings about the menace of "Communism" and his stool pigeons file their reports regularly while the" - Legionnaires, John Birchers and other ultraright voices join the chorus. -But -the herd of red-baiters have not been summoned into act¥on on cue from above. The House Un-American Activities Committee has yet -to hold inquisitorial hearings against the current student or adult leaders of the antiwar forces, though it can be counted on to do so at a propitious moment.
There are numerous reasons for this sluggishness in resort-— ing to witch-hunting tactics. The experience with McCarthyism is vividly remembered and hangs heavy upon ‘the consciences of many Americans, especially in the intellectual: community. They feel that this shameful episode should not be repeated and are quite’ sensitive to the more flagrant moves in shat direction.
“Por example, more than 1,200 protessors- in colleges from * coast -to coast have signed as sponsors of the national committee defending the thrée Young Socialist Alliance members at the University of Indiana indicted under an anti~Communist state law: almost three years ago.
The U.S. has never been-so prosper ous ; and an official <_ recrudescence of witch-hunting ‘would mar‘the image of the John-'sonian "concensus" in the ballyhooed "Great Society." While the Negroes are on the march and manifestly discontented, organized labor:--remains relatively passive. Although outbreaks in the black ghettoes, like the one in Watts, are put down by force, the .demands of the more than 20,000,000 Negroes ‘are so justified and popular that they cannot. be stigmatized ox dismissed as. inspired by Moscow, Peking Or ‘Havana. Since the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee has come out against the Vietnam war, attempts are being made to smear this militant Southern youth — civil-rights organization with a red brush, “though not with much | effect. :
It would’ not be. difficult to try to pin the label of "Commie traitor" upon other prominent participants in the antiwar ~ movement. by arguing that their indictments of Washington's ageression and their calis for withdrawal of U.S. troops are sapping _ morale and helping the "Vietcong" and north Vietnam to win. ~
The main obstacle here is the unprecedented questioning . of Johnson's course in Southeast Asia at home as well as abroad. Many doubters about the wisdom of his policies are to be found in all walks of American life. These range from radical students: and intellectuals on the left to influential members of Congress and political commentators of such prominence as Walter Lippmann and James Reston, one of the editorial writers of the influential New York Times.
If the administzation should start branding its more outspoken opponents as "Communist agitators". or. "dupes," where will it draw the line? Johnson is well aware of the extraordinary _ extent of this criticism and the Pandora's box that: might. be “opened . once the lida were lifted on the witeh-huntera and war hawks. . :
Finally -— and. this is a most persuasive “consideration, for practical Democratic and Republican politicians —- uninhib-.ited witch-hunting: does not pay off in votes at the polls as it: did in the fifties. McCarthyism, which propelled Nixon into . the vice-presidency , is no. longer the easiest road to electoral .. success. This has recently been tested in _ two significant ~ national and state races.
“Goldwater ran against Johnson in. 1964. on an enticivilrights, antilabor and enti Communist line. He was buried on. --.election day. oe ke
In the November 1965 election in the Hastern industrial state of New Jersey, the Republican candidate Dumont sought to oust. the incumbent. Democratic Governor Hughes by.campaigning on. a single issue involving. red-baiting. Gov. Hughes had refused to request the state university of Rutgers. to-fire. Fugene - Genovese, a history professor wno had proclaimed his. solidarity with the south Vietnamese revolutionists at a teach-in. The Republican assailant: of academic freedom went down to overwhelming defeat ina contest whose outcome was carefully watched bY politicians add over the. CounbL Ye
The repressive laws. ‘and witch-hunting machinery: remain intact. on national, state.and local levéls; and, when need os requires, these are sét into motion ayainst.dissenters and radi-. cals of every. deseription. Pacifist burners of draft cards. have. heen indieted.. Because of his. political. ideas and. activities, - Joseph. Johnson, Minneapolis: organizer of the. Socialist Workers party, has been ordered to deport. himself trom the United States. where he is a native- bora citizen. The cases of the young; people who organized a trip in defiance of the State ‘Department ' Ss, ban on travel to Cuba is still in the courts and they are now even prohibited from-moving.about freely in their. own country. William Epton, Negro leader of.the Maoist. Progressive. Labor. Movement, has just been.framed up and. found..guilty of violating a.rarely.. asec. criminal anarchy statute, of the. fhate of New York. fox. his, role. in the 1964 Harlem... outburst... = _ -
Such victimizations can be stepped up as the Vietnam war and the opposition to it escalate. .- However, the.power:centexs of the capitalist ruling: class have not. been promoting a. concerted. campaign on the McCarthyite pattern. Such measures are being held in reserve. for a different turn of events. ;
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On the Index Librorum Prohibitorum
-NKRUMAH'S BOOK