Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-06
TEXT OF HOOVER'S SPEECH =
BEFORE LEGION IN BOSTON

requires that no one of us shall enter
tain suspicion or i'll will toward other
peoples, that we give them no cause for
the most dangerous of all emotions
that Is, fear. 1t requires that every
American shall realize that men and
women of other nations have the same
devotion to their flags and are as sensi-
tive to the dignity Of their country
as we.
On this road to peace we have at
tanned two momentous victories. The
first of these is the Kellogg BRAND
pact. BY the London naval agreement
we have silenced the high dangers of
competitive naval building and have
safeguarded our defense by parity with
the greatest naval power in the world.
We have assured the maintenance of
an efficient navy as the first line of de-
Tense. BY limiting our strength we
have given demonstration to the world
that we seek no domination but only
adequate defense
The peace of our country has never
stood more assured than at this mo-
ment. The realization of your ideal to
promote peace and good will through
active citizenship is the greatest guar
anty of its continuance.
The first high purpose you express is
to uphold and defend the Constitution
and to maintain law and order in the
United States. Happily, your ideal is
my first and most sacred duty. AS
President of the United States I am
sworn by the whole people to maintain
the Constitution and to enforce the
laws. No man should dare call himself
faithful American and suggest other
wise; You have recognized that the up
building of the Constitution and the
enforcement of the laws must, how
ever, not rest upon Government Off
Gals alone; it must rise from the stern
demand and the loyal cooperation of
good citizenship and individual respon-
sibility to the community.
Defense Is Obligation.
One of the primary obligations of
citizenship Is national defense. Our
people have been traditionally opposed
to large standing Army in times of
peace. The Nation needs a Regular
Army, highly developed in training and
technical services, as the nucleus for
the training of citizen soldiers and to
lead them in times of emergency. We
have always relied on our citizen army,
and never relied in vain, but its main
tenance is again the voluntary service
of good citizenship. Your association
has taken large interest in provision for
better industrial mobilization. You have
been greatly interested, and I have
lately signed an act creating an in
quiry into the methods by which the
economic burdens of war shall fall
of citizenry. 1t is not equitable that
one citizen shall profit by war while
another makes the supreme sacrifice.
One of your expressed ideals was that
of mutual helpfulness." In your So
licitude for your comrades disabled both
in war and in peace you have kept that
faith. Nor has grateful Nation failed
in its duty. In addition to hospitaliza-
ton, rehabilitation, war-risk insurance,
adjusted compensation and priority in
civil service, the Government has un-
dertaken. through disability allowances,
to provide for some 700, 900 veterans of
the World War Our total OUTLAWS on
all services to World War veterans are
nearly $500, 000, 900 a year and to vet
Grams of all wars nearly 5000, 100000
per annum. The Nation assumes an OBJ
legation when it sends its sons to war.
The Nation Is proud to requite this OBJ
legation within its full resources. have
been glad of the opportunity to favor
the extension of these services IN such
O. manner that they cover without ques-
ton all cases of disablement whether
from war or peace There Is, however,
a deep responsibility Of citizenship in
the administration Of this trust of mu-
tual helpfulness which peculiarly lies
upon your members, and that IS that
the demands upon the Government
should not exceed the measure that JUS
tice requires and self-help can provide.
If we shall overload the burden of tax
alton, we shall stagnate our economic
progress and we shall by the slacken-
ing of this progress place penalties upon
every citizen.
Individual Has Responsibility.
There are many other responsibilities
of the individual in his obligations to
the community, the State and the Ma
tion." The very beginning of such OBJ
legation is at the ballot box. The whole
plan of self-government presupposes
that the whole people shall participate
In the selection Of its officials. the de-
termination of its policies and the
maintenance of its ideals. Anything
less than this involves government by
the minority.
Your own expressed fears Of "au-
tocracy Of either classes or masses" can
well come true unless the individual
citizen takes at least his share in the
burden of government. He cannot hope
to escape tyranny, he may not safely
trust that right will be the master Of
might" unless he is willing to respond
lot box. When he does not insist upon
purity of elections he has lost democ-
racy itself. Beyond this, If right shall
be the master of might, every citizen
must be on guard against the invasion
of our guaranteed liberties even by pub
lie officials.
You have insisted that we shall
Safeguard and transmit the principles
of democracy" We have seen the
erection of many new democracies dur
ing this period since the war. We have
seen some of them fall by the wayside-
some to strong men and some to the
mob. Strange new doctrines are pre-
sented to us in alluring language. Self
government is being questioned. We in
America have proved 1t the surest lift
to the common man. We have grown
and prospered under it for $50 years.
We believe in 1t. There is no greater
service to the world than that we should
hold and strengthen it. 1t is grounded
upon the ideal you have set for your
selves-the obligation of the individual
to the community, the State and the
Nation"
Renewed Effort Asked.
During these years your thousands Of
posts have concerned themselves with
these ideas of citizenship. My purpose
today is TO urge you to renewed Efforts
that you, as the American Legion, as a
group of men who, inspired by the
Ideals of our country went to battle to
preserve those ideals-that you should
renew and expand your mission of citi-
zenship.
We need the teaching Of the essen
tials OF goodwill toward other nations
in every communicated the foun-
dations of peace arise from the sense
of justice within the citizenry of a ma
ton, in the goodwill which they in
dividually evince toward other peoples
We need the teaching that the foun-
dalton Of government is respect for law
A quickened interest on the part of the
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