Looking Back: Opinions from past add perspective

Looking Back reviews opinions published in The Spokesman-Review during this week in history.

FDR and war, Aug. 26, 1936

Reflecting the isolationist tenor of the times, the S-R editorial board was not pleased with a particular portion of a President Roosevelt speech.

“President Roosevelt’s Chautauqua address would have been altogether praiseworthy if he had refrained from the offensive thrusts at countries like Germany, Italy and Russia.

“When he said ‘if there are remoter nations that wish us not good, but ill, they know that we are strong: they know that we can and will defend ourselves and defend our neighborhood,’ he verged upon the bad practice of saber rattling, which precipitated the world war, and, continued now by Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin, may plunge Europe into another war.

“Mr. Roosevelt’s address fell short of statesmanship, and it is doubted if it was good politics from the new deal point of view, for its scolding tone is not likely to please German-American admirers of Hitler, or Italian-Americans in the United States who admire Mussolini.”

English-only, Aug. 23, 1986

The S-R editorial board weighed in on various efforts to adopt English as the official language of the United States.

“Last year, state Rep. Dick Bond unsuccessfully pushed for passage of a one-sentence English-only bill for Washington state. Bills seeking a constitutional amendment to designate English as the official language introduced last year by Sen. Steve Symms, R-Idaho, and Rep. Norman Shumway, R-Calif., are pending in congressional committees. Symms’ bill would abolish bilingual ballots and emphasize learning English with a minimum of bilingual assistance.”

It went on to say, “This subject is particularly timely now, with memories of the gala celebrating the refurbishing of the Statue of Liberty still fresh in Americans’ minds. There still are huddled masses whose dream is to come to America seeking a better life. But it is a giant, traumatic step to take off for the unknown, leaving homelands, family and friends behind. Knowing that immigrants’ struggle to learn the language here is recognized, accepted and allowed for is of tremendous comfort.”

Cyberwars, Aug. 22, 1996

An S-R editorial discussed the “breakneck battle between Microsoft and Netscape for domination of the Internet.”

It noted: “Microsoft is giving away its new Internet browser software in hopes of pulverizing its competitor, Netscape. Netscape’s Web browsers currently enjoy an 80 percent to 90 percent market share. But Microsoft’s pockets are deep enough to give its product away until Netscape is history.”

It concluded: “So far, the Internet enjoys a healthy balance between competition, which breeds innovation, and standardization, which ensures universal access. … If Microsoft seizes the browser market, it will extend its near monopoly in operating systems and its dominance in applications software. If Microsoft loses the battle, there’s a chance computer users someday will get application software via the Internet instead of buying disks and manuals from Microsoft.”