Evening star., 1936-12-20
Antrrtra
By Lucy Salamanca.

tIlc NdIlOll! pclIldpo w SNCly-
body's lips would spring a prayer
for peace and prosperity.
For weeks now, headlines of
our daily papers have been con-
cerned with peace; our financial
pages and reports have spoken
of prosperity. 1t looks very
much as though America were
on its way to receive in abun-
dance these ineStimable bless
ings in the ChriStmaSeS that
are ahead.
While these gifts must spring
from the hearts of the American
people themselves, this Nation,
as we'll as nations across the sea,
are looking toward the leader in
the White House to foster and
preserve them. Thus, in a man.
ner of speaking, President Roose-
welt will be the instrument for
passing them on to the people.
They will, in this respect, be his
gifts to America.
Certainly. in the beStowal of
such gifts, a man may make his
name immortal and beloved of
this and succeeding generations.
A review of every public ad-
dress, every speech, every in
formal radio talk that President
Roosevelt has uttered since the
day of his first taking oath of
Office. is an indication that the
dearest wish of his own heart
would be served if he might, in
deed, be instrumental in beStoW-
ing these two priceless possess
sionS upon the Nation.
II would dedicate this Nation
to the policy of the good neigh
bor-the neighbor who resolutely
respects himself and, because he
does so, respects the rights Of
others-a neighbor who respects
his obligations and respects the
sanctity of his agreements in
and with a world of neighborS,
he said on March 4, 1888. In
1884. he thus addressed himself
~ to the Senate of the United
States: "The peoples of many
countries are being taxed to the
point of poverty and starvation
in order to enable governments
to engaged in a mad race in
ornaments, which, if permitted
to continue, may we'll result in
war. This grave menace to the
peace of the world is due in no
small measure to the uncon-
trolled activities of the manu-
facturerS and merchants of
engines of destruction, and it
must be met by the concerted
action of the peoples of all
nations"
A GAIN in August, 1886, Presi-
dent Roosevelt said at Chau-
tauqua: Long before I returned
to Washington as President of
the United States, I had made
up my mind that pending what
might be called a more Oppor-
tune moment on other conti-
nents, the United States could
best serve the cause of a peace
full humanity by setting an
example"
From Hyde Park, earlier this
year, he spoke of neighborlineSS
as way to pool our spiritual re-
sources; to find common ground
on which all of us of all faiths
can stand, and thence to move
forward as men and women con-
cerned for the things of the
spirit
In September in Charlotte, N.
c., he dWelt, with pOeSy and feel
ing, upon green pastures" and
still waters"
Have you ever stopped to
think" he asked, that happi-
ness is most often described in
terms of the simple ways of
nature, rather than in the COM
pleX ways of mans fabrications? |
Perhaps it is because peace is
necessary to ultimate happiness.
Like the motif of great SYM
phony. the theme of peace beats |
through the Presidents public |
utteranceS, and accompanying
that theme, as it must ever &C
company it, comes the creScendo |
of increasing prosperity.
Speaking of 1888, President |
Roosevelt said: This Nation
slipped Spirally downward-ever
downward - to the inevitable
point when the mechanics of |
civilization came to a dead stop
on March 3, 1888. You and I
need not rehearse the preceding
four years of disaster and gloom.
We know the simple fact that, at
the end of those years, America
acted before it was too late, that
we turned about, and by a su-
preme, Well-nigh unanimous eff
fort, started on the upward |
path again"
In November of the following
year, he addressed citizens in Tu-
pelo, Miss: Two years ago, in
1882, during the compaign, and
again in January, 1888, came |
through Kentucky-through the
Tennessee Valley-and what I !
saw on those trips, what I saw
of human beings, made the tears
come to my eyes. The great out
standing thing to me for these
past three days has been the
change in the looks of peoples
faces. 1t has not only been a
physical thing. 1t has not been
the contrast sbetWeen what was
actually a scarcity of raiment
ty1o years ago or a lack of food
two years ago-the contrast of
that and better clothing and
more food today. There wasn't
much hope in those days. Peo-
pie were wondering what was
going to come to this country.
And yes, today, I see not only
hope, but see determination
knowledge that all is we'll with
the country and that we are 4
coming back"
TN THAT same year he told the
people of HarrodSburg, KY: