Evening star., 1926-10-16
Text Of President Coolidee's Speech
at international Oratory Contest

"Some method Of public expression
through an assembly of the people
evolving into q parliament has grown
up until the final outcome Is repre-
sented by a republic. All Of these
institutions have historic back.
ground and a traditional support in
the experience Of the people. Some
have reached one stage. some an.
other. 1t Ia perfectly evident to the
student that government is by no
means so much a matter Of theory
and logic as 1t is a matter Of custom
and habit and a manifestation OF the
spirit of the nation
Connection With Past.
"A people cannot break with their
past. The national development
which Is Of any permanent worth is
always slow and deliberate. Each
people has to work out its own
destiny. We could not superimpose
our institutions upon other nations.
The best service that we can render
foreign countries in that direction is
to leave them secure and undisturbed
to develop their own institutions of
freedom with such aid as we may
mutually derive from the example Of
the mistakes and successes of each
| other. II will be a help to the youth
of different nations to learn of the
benefits which each is deriving from
its own institutions.
The main object of all this effort
in studying government is to pro.
mote good citizenship. For this pur-
pose it is not necessary that all the
people in the community have a pro.
found knowledge OF International law,
deep learning upon constitutional
matters and wide acquaintance with
statutory enactments. 1t is neceS
sary. however. that there should be
an element who are proficient in these
directions. and our youth ought to
have sufficient knowledge Of our insti-
tutions So that they will not be de.
ceived by incorrect statements of
facts and Illogical arguments about
them.
While each of our citizens ought to
have sufficient faith and knowledge
TO reinforce their belief in America,
after all good citizenship is not SO
much a matter of information as of
disposition, not so much of the head
as OF the heart, not so much depend.
ent upon knowledge as upon senti.
rnent. Those who want 10 do right
nave little difficulty in finding out
the right
tHlzenshlp Not Intricate.
American citizenship is not some
thing that is intricate. involved and
mysterious, beyond the comprehen-
sion Of ordinary intelligence. Those
who have had meager opportunities
oitentilnes discharge their obliga
tions to perfection. while those who
seemingly have had every advantage
accomplish nothing but failure. To
provide for the economic being
or our inhabitants, only three at
tributes, which are not beyond the
reach of the average person. are
necessary - honesty. industry and
thrift.
"By devotion to these, people will
in general be self supporting and
independent. This applies to the
private affairs OF our citizens. but,
Of course, under our institutions they
are all charged with the performance
Of public functions. Some Will be
called on to hold office But all our
citizens of the requisite age and edu-
cation are called on to vote. | wish
especially to emphasize that When
ever choice is to be made in elect
ing public officer all those who can
qualify are under the most solemn
and binding obligation to register
their decision at the ballot box To
fail in that is to be disloyal to our
whole system of self government.
"On our theory that the people are
sovereign, to neglect to vote is to
abdicate. We do not pretend to rely
for correct decisions on the judgment
of the selfish and the interested few,
but rather on the patriotic choice of
the great body Of candid and inde-
pendent citizens. We rely on the
expression Of the impartial voters
A true election represents the un-
trammeled expression of their will
1t Is their voice that speaks with
divine authority.
Obedience to Law Requisite.
An imperative necessity makes
another requirement of good citizen
ship to be obedience to law. This is
the first requisite Of all government
that is worthy Of the name. OBJ
servance of the law is the very es-
sence of self government It is the
main source of certainty in all social
relationships. Without 1t all those
elements would be lacking on which
we are dependent for economic struc-
ture. The protection of property, the
security of the person, would be gone.
The entire basis FOR credit would be
lacking. No standard of value for
property could exist. Justice would
vanish. The whole foundation of
civilization would crumble. The pro-
lection of the weak would disappear
The sole reliance would be force.
Might alone would rule.
''It is to rescue the people from
these conditions that constitutions
are adopted and statutes enacted
But all these will be Of little avail
unless there is fostered and nourished
in the minds Of our citizens a rugged
respect for law and obedience to it's
DEGREES. These are some of the at
tributes which must characterize a
self-supporting. governing and
law abiding nation. 1t is my opinion
that they will not be found except
among a religious people.
II welcome the opportunity to join
with you in discussion of some Of
these principles which provide the
foundations of the we'll being of our
Republic and the cordiality and
friendliness Of our relationship with
other nations"
Actress Connard Gets Divorce.
NEW YORK, October Is CP.-Phyl