Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-01-17
What the American
Legion Stands For
Continued from last week. J

Continued from last week.
Following is the ninth address de-
lIvered at the national convention of
the American Legion, held at San
Antonio, Texas, on the various
clauses of the preamble to the Le-
gion constitution:
PREAMBLE
For God and Country we associate
ourselves together for the following
purposes:
ITO uphold and defend the Consti-
tuition of the United States eff Ameri-
ca and the State of Montana; to
maintain law and order; to foster
and perpetuate a one hundred per
cent Americanism; to preserve the
memories and incidents of our as
ISOLATION in the Great War; to in
dicate sense of individual obligation
to the community, state and Nation;
to combat the autocracy of both the
classes and the masses; to make right
the master of might; to promote
peace and good will on cath; to safe
guard and transmit to prosperity the
principles of justice, freedom and
democracy; to eonsecrate and sane
tify our comradeship, by our devo-
ton to mutual helpfulness. =,
Safeguard Principles of Justice,
Freedom and Democracy"
Mr., Frank Miles, Iowa): Mr.. Com
mander, Ladies, Comrades and
Friends: ITO safeguard and trans
NIT to prosperity the principles of
justice, freedom and democracy
Justice means fair dealing of peo-
pie with one another, complete OBJ
servance of the golden rule.
Freedom means absence of arbi>
trary or despotic control.
Democracy means the supreme
power of government is retained by
the people.
Justice, freedom and democracy
are the triune foundation Of this re-
public.
Revolt against injustice and pas
sion for freedom inspired the Pill
grims to cross the then perilous At
lantic on the Mayflower and land at
Plymouth Rock. Revolt against the in
justice of arbitrary and despotic con-
troll fired liberty-loving colonists to
declare independence and to sacrifice
lives and fortunes to make it reality.
Then to perpetuate that dearly won
justice and freedom they established
our American form of democracy.
Our democracy is eminently pro-
gressive sand successful because while
it provides for rule Of the majority,
it insures full freedom of Thought,
expression and activity to the minori-
ty. It recognizes all reasonable rights
of the individual. 1t offers every ma
tive born and adopted son of America
boundless opportunities. 1t treats all
voters alike in that it let's no vote
count more than another. 1t stands
for equal and exact Justice to all citi-
zens in the courts, in commerce and
in the affairs Of government. 1t guar
antees to all rights which the strong
est may not invade and which the
weakest may invoke for protection.
1t calls for support Of state govern
ment in their rights, preservation and
defense Of the national government
in all its acts under the Constitution.
friendship for, patience with and
eagerness to help other nations with
out relinquishing our national honor,
abiding faith in mankind, freedom of
speech freedom Of press, freedom of
the individual to worship God as he
will.
Laws, rules, systems, pacts are no
stronger than the people who live
under them. Most Americans are
thoroughly just, depise despotism
and love democracy but there are
enough who do not to sound con-
stantly ringing challenge to Legion
naires and all other true citizens. True
Americans must insist upon devotion
to and fervor for justice like that
which inspired the colonists to en-