Since the world solution is, at best, so remote, our question is: what
are we to do meantime? Our entrance into the War partially answers the
question. We have before us the immediate task of aiding in
overthrowing autocracy and tyranny and of defending our liberties and
those of the nations that stand for democracy. This is the first duty,
but not the only one.

More definitely than any other nation we have thrown down to the world
the challenge of democracy. We have said, "Away with kings, we will
have no more of them! Away with castes and ruling classes, we will have
no more of them!" As a matter of fact, democracies have no rulers--the
word survives from an older order of society--they have guides, leaders
and representatives. If you wish to use the word, in a democracy every
man is the ruler--and every woman too, we hope, before long. To this
ideal we are committed and it carries certain obligations; for every
right carries a duty, and every duty, a right. Often the best way to
get a privilege is by assuming a responsibility. That is a truth it
would be well for the leaders of the feminist and labor movements to
recognize. The obligations carried by the challenge of our democracy are
clear.

We Americans should have done, once and for all time, with the diplomacy
of lying and deceit. Fortunately our recent traditions are in harmony
with this demand; but we should not depend upon the happy accident of an
administration which takes the right attitude. It should be the open
and universal demand of the American people that those who represent us
shall place the relations we sustain to other nations permanently on the
same plane of frank honesty, generally prevailing among individuals.
Incidentally, any politician or statesman who, at this heart-breaking
crisis of the world's life, dares play party politics with our