Evening star., 1936-06-28
The Presidents Speech.

A fine speech, rich in its inspirational
qualities possessing fit dignity, beau-
tifully written and as we'll delivered, the
Presidents address of acceptance last
night gains even more in contrast with
the low order of political oratory with
which the country has become Satiated
to the point Of distaste in the past three
weeks. If commendation ended with
praise for the President in having chosen
a high level and maintaining it in the
course of moving statement of high
idealism, he would fully deserve the graf
itude of his countrymen. His speech was
eminently in good taste. If it may be
considered as it should be, as the opening
blow of what Mr.. Farley has predicted
will be dirty campaign, the President
has at least struck cleanly.
The speech fits the platform. That is
natural, for the same hand directed the
modelling of both. There are no incon-
sistencies between the speech and the
platform. The advantages of unity have
been gained here, if lost elsewhere. And
the critics of the Presidents speech, like
those of his platform, must wrestle with
the Elusive quality of skilfully chosen
words; must direct their shots at what
is implied-as indicated by the record
of past tendencies and performances
rather than with what is said.
1t is high ideal to which the Presi-
dent pledges himself and his party-the
achievement of balanced" liberty,
measured not only in political freedom,
but in economic freedom for the individ-
ual. 1t is goal toward which men have
fought, toward which they have pro-
gressed by painfully slow degrees since
the beginnings of time. But the Presi-
dents thesis, that in the United States
the complexities of modern civilization
have served to render political liberty
meaningless by the destruction of eco
nomic freedom, lends itself more easily
to the uses of rhetoric than to the dem
onstration of fact. Crushed and hope
less, as thousands are, beneath the weight
of forces which are far beyond their
control, it is no more easy to believe that
America has, in truth, ceased to be a
land of opportunity than it is to point
out in the flesh the members of that
economic royalty" to which the Presi-
dent facilely attributes tyranny which
he and his party have been called to
overthrow.
And while this jousting with new
dynasties," new kingdoms" this royal
service this dynastic scheme of things"
this new despotism x x wrapped
in robes of legal sanction these new
mercenaries," the new economic roy
atty" the economic royalists," this res
olute enemy" is an orthodox pastime,
approved by the American tradition for
political speakers in campaigns, more
particulars and fewer figures of speech
would be helpful to the voters.
1t must be remembered that in the
unending battle for economic freedom
under government conceived by the
President and his party platform as
centralized in Washington and dedicated
to the alleviation of many of the sins
and ills of mankind that stalked the
earth long before even the Republican
party was born, there are tyrannous au-
tocracies other than the royalty of 1776 or
the economic despots of 1886. And one
Of the most feared of these is the tyran-
nous autocracy of a crusading bureaucra-
cy which substitutes government by men
for government by laws, which in its
zest for what passes as reform merely
changes the form of evil, which in hot
haste to rebuild is apt to destroy and
which in the name of freedom chains
men down with the weight of taxation
No President ever spoke more truth
fully, nor in manner more destined to
awaken the sincere sympathies of his
people than did Mr.. Roosevelt in his in
troductory phrase: Il come not only as
the leader of a party-not only as a can
didate for high Office, but as one upon
whom many critical hours have imposed
and still impose a grave responsibility"
He has borne it CALAMITY. May he
bear it wisely.