Evening star., 1936-02-25
ROOSEVELT SHOWS
MORAL POWERUS
Utilized Brotherhood Talk to
Speak in Abstract on Re-
Iigious Liberty. An
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

AN exCell6uL 1uuStTdtlOIl VI t1AS
proper use of the moral influence of
the President of the United States has
just been given in radio address
delivered by Mr.. Roosevelt.
It was in connection with the cele-
bration of Brotherhood day under the
auspices of the National Conference
of Jews and Christians. Mr.. Roosevelt
had been criticized for not making di-
rect representations to the govern
.ments of Mexico and Germany be-
cause Of the persecution of Catholics
and Jews, respectively, in those coun-
tries. The President felt that to do
so would be interfering in the internal
concerns of a foreign nation.
But when the opportunity came. as
1T did on Sunday last, to speak in
the abstract about religious freedom,
Mr.. Roosevelt in unmistakable terms
outlined what he believes to be the
overwhelming sentiment of the Ameri-
can people. Sometimes there is more
to be gained by what woodrow Wilson
used to refer to as implicit" rather
than explicit" discussion of para
mount issue Thus Mr.. Roosevelt did
not have to mention concrete in
stances of religious persecution to en-
able his listeners throughout the
world to apply what he said to par
ticular areas of the earth's surface
where religious persecution is at its
height From the viewpoint Of diplo-
matte relations the President pre-
served the amenities, but informally,
he left no doubt about the American
point Of view.
All Faith in Question.
Nor did the President confine him.
self simply to interferences with re-
hgious worship. He spoke forcefully
about the tendency to break down
faith so noticeable in the Russian
Communist attitude toward religious
fundamentals of the past. Mr.. Roose-
welt said for instance:
1T is not your specific faith or
mine that is being called into ques-
tion-but all faith. Religion in wide
areas of the earth is being confronted
with irreligion; our faiths are being
challenged. It is because of that
threat that you and I must reach
across the lines between our creeds,
clasp hands and make common cause.
To do that will dc credit to the best
of our religious tradition"
What practical value has such
speech, it will be asked, and how can
it do any good when it is presumably
never printed in Germany or Russia
because of press censorship? The SIM
pie answer is that world opinion is
/: powerful influence when once mo-
/. bilized in common cause. Unfor-
= tunately as yet world opinion on the
subject Of religious freedom has by
: no means reached the stage of or
= ganiged expression. The language of
: hate is still spoken and acted upon
in different parts of the world even
: in n'some areas outside of Germany and
Russia. Little by little as the value
]: OF International friendship becomes
Z once more a factor considered by
awakening peoples in the shaping of
their own domestic policies, the cru
SADIE for return of civilized behavior
takes root and affects the attitude of
! soygnments again.
F. E Truly Great Utterance.
Mr.. Roosevelt's address may be set
. down as truly great utterance-one
: Of the best expositions of American
. thought and principle that has been
made by any Chief Executive of the
American people. Long after the hotly
, contested policies of his administra-
. tion have been forgotten, the words
of tolerance in Franklin Roosevelt's
appeal for faith and religious free
; dom will be remembered. All through
1.-The depression as mems hearts have
!. .dsspaired they have been cropping un-
'sconsciously, perhaps, but none the
/ less patiently, for the truth that is ex-
9 pressed by the President in these lines:
: mo greater thing could come to our
land today than revival of the spirit
OF religion-a revival that would sweep
through the homes of the Nation and
stir the hearts of men and women of
all faiths to reassertion of their be-
lief in God and their dedication to His
will for themselves and for their world.
I doubt if there is any problem
social, political or economic-that
would not melt away before the fire
OF such spiritual awakening"
MIR. Roosevelt is not exaggerating
the possibilities. He is giving hint
that relates to practical task of
government itself. For in his own
administration he has seen the fires
of class warfare kindled, he has seen
the effects of arbitrary Government
action, and he has felt on the other
hand that not little of the opposition
to his policies has come from men
who stubbornly refuse to yield ground
in the common interest. The diff
Guilty arises In interpreting what is
truly the common interest" and in
understanding how the misuse of the
term frequently brings disintegration
and disorganization instead OF unity
and progress.
Ideal Attitude.
The ideal attitude. of course, was
outlined in this paragraph Of Mr..
Roosevelt's speech:
II like to think of our country as
one home in whi.h the interests of
each member are bound UP with the
happiness Of all We ought to know
by now that the welfare Of your fam
lily or mine cannot be bought at the
sacrifice Of our neighbor's family; that
our well-being depends, in the long
run, upon the well-being Of our neigh
bors."
1t is this doctrine. involving as it
does, careful and just application
of human rights in property, which
touches nearly every problem of a
social, political or economic character
confronting government today. Hence
spiritual background becomes a pre-
requisite to fairness. to justice, to sim
cerity, to the administration Of law,
to the equal protection Of all classes
Of people, in short, to good govern
ment in America.