Evening star., 1932-08-12

has assisted in a score of great un-
dertakings. I likewise give credit to
Democratic as well as Republican
leaders amongst our citizens for their
cooperation and help.
A record of these dangers and the
policies in the past three years will
be set down in books. Much of 1t
is of interest only to history. Our
interest now is the future. I dwell
upon these policies and problems
only where they illustrate the ques-
tions of the day and our course in
the future. As a government and as
a people we still have much to do.
We must continue the building Of
our measures of restoration. We
must profit by the lessons of this ex-
perience.
Functions of Government
Serve Dual Purpose.
Before I enter upon q discussion
of these policies wish to say some
thing Of my conception of the rela-
ton of our Government to the peo-
pie and of the responsibilities of
both, particularly as applied to these
times. The spirit and devising OF
this Government by the people was
to sustain a dual purpoSe-on the
one hand to protect our people
amongst nations and in domestic
emergencies by great national power,
and on the other to preserve indi-
vidual liberty and freedom through
local government.
The function of the Federal Gov
eminent in these times is to use its
reserve powers and its strength for
the protection of citizens and local
governments by support to our in
stitutionS against forces beyond their
control. 1t is not the function OF
the Government to relieve indi-
viduals of their responsibilities to
their neighbors, or to relieve private
institutions Of their responsibilities
to the public, or of local government
to the States, or of State govern
ments to the Federal Government.
In giving that protection and that
aid the Federal Government must
insist that all Of them exert their
responsibilities in full. 1t is vital
that the programs of the Govern
ment shall not compete with or re-
place any Of them, but shall add to
their initiative and their strength.
1t is vital that by the use of public
revenues and public credit in emer-
gency the Nation shall be strength
ened and not weakened.
And in all these emergencies and
crises and in all our future policies
we must also preserve the funda-
mental principles of our social and
economic system. That system is
founded upon conception Of or
dered freedom. The test of that
freedom is that there should be
maintained equality of opportunity
to every individual so that he may
achieve for himself the best to
which his character, ability and am
bition entitle him. 1t is only by
this release of initiative, this in
siStence upon individual responsible
ity, that We accrue the great sums
of individual accomplishment which
carry this Nation forward. This is
not an individualism which permits
men to run riot in self1ShneSs or to
override equality of opportunity for
others. 1t permits no violation Of
ordered liberty. In the race after
the false gods of materiahsm men
and groups have forgotten their
country. Equality of oportunity
contains no conception of ex-
ploitation by any selfish, ruth
less. class-minded men or groups.
They have no place in the American
system. AS against these stand the
guiding ideals and concepts Of our
Nation. I propose to maintain
them.
The solution of our many prob
lens which arise from the shifting
scene of national life is not to be
found in haphazard experimentation
or by revolution. 1t must be through
organic development Of our national
life under these ideals. 1t must Sc
cure that cooperative action which
builds initiative and strength out
side Of government. 1t does not fol-
low. because our difficulties are stu
pendous. because there are some
souls timorouS enough to doubt the
validity and effectiveness of our
ideals and our system, that we must
turn to a State-controlled or state
directed social or economic system in
order to cure our troubles. That is
not liberalism; it is tyranny. It Is
the regimentation of men under au-
tocratic bureaucracy with all its ex-
tinction Of liberty, of hope and Of
opportunity. OF course, no man Of
understanding says that our system
works perfectly. 1t does not. The
human race is not perfect. Never
theless, the movement of a true
civilization is toward freedom rather
than RECOMMENDATION. This is our
ideal.
Ofttimes the tendency of democ-
racy in presence of national danger
is to strike blindly, to listen to dem
agogues and slogans. all of which
would destroy and would not save.
We have refused to be stampeded
into such courses. OfttimeS democ-
| racy elsewhere In the world has
been unable to move fast enough to
save itself in emergency. There
have been disheartening delays and
failures in legislation and private