Evening star., 1939-03-05
Liberty Democrocy's Bu|work,
Roosevelt and Hughes Declare;
Nozi Reply Attacks President
u. S. Not Passive
Before Religious
Persecution
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
On cheering, gala joint session
of Congress, President Roosevelt and
Chief Justice Hughes impressed yes
terday the thought that the indi-
vidual liberty guaranteed by the
Constitution is this Nations defense
against those who would destroy
democracy.
Gathered in the big hall of the
House of Representatives were the
members of both branches of Con-
gress. commemorating the first meet
ing of the National Legislature under
the Constitution $50 years before.
With them were the members of the
cabinet, the Supreme Court, the
heads of the Army and Navy, and
the diplomatic ENJOYS of more than
so foreign countries.
1t was an occasion for traditional
American patriotic speech-making,
for tribute to the founders of the
country and to the Constitution.
But Mr.. Roosevelt and Chief Justice
Hughes made it also an occasion for
reviewing a century and half of
democracy, what it has meant and
what it promises to mean to the
people of America. They found their
thoughts following similar channels.
To-day" said the President. with
many other democracies, the United
States will give no encouragement
to the belief that our processes are
outWorn, or that We will approvingly
watch the return of forms of govern
ment which for 1000 years have
proved their tyranny and their in
stability alike"
U. S. Won't Ignore Liberty Denial.
He served notice, too, that the
United States would not stand pas
sive and silent while religious liberty
was denied in other lands, but would
use every peaceful means to pre-
serve religious and personal freedom.
Where democracy is snuffed out,
there, too, the right to worship
God in ones own way is circum-
scribed or abrogated.' he said. Shall
We by our passiveness. by our si-
lence. by assuming the attitude of
the Levite who pulled his skirts
together and passed by on the other
side lend encouragement to those
who today persecute religion or
deny it?
The answer is No just as in the
days of the First Congress of the
United States it was No"
The Chief Justice said the most
significant fact in connection with
the anniversary SIS that after $50
years. notwithstanding expansion of
territory, enormous increase in pop
ulatien and profound economic
changes. despite direct attack and
subversive influences, there is every
indication that the vastly prepon-
derant sentiment of the American
people is that our form of govern
ment shall be preserved"
Describes Bill of Rights.
Again the President described the
Bill of Rights, with its guarantees
OF freedom of worship, freedom of
speech. of the press and of
assembly, as containing vast
chasm between our representative
democracy and those reversions to
personal rule which have character
lied these recent years"
Our guarantees of fair trials"
Mr.. Hughes said, "of due process
in the protection of life, liberty and
property-which stands between the
citizen and arbitrary poWer-of re-
ligious freedom, of free speech, free
press and free assembly, are the
safeguards which have been erected
against the abuses threatened by
gusts of passion and prejudice
which in misguided zeal would de-
stroy the basic interests OF democ-
racy."
But while the Chief Executive
suggested modern times demanded
speed in adjusting our Government
to meet new problems. Mr.. Hughes
said the inherent delays of democ-
racy assured deliberate judgment.
Explains Horse and Buggy" Term.
The President, mentioning the
phrase horse and buggy age
"iiAIil liC df>Cu III dCSlllUlllS lilc Ou-
preme Courts 1885 decision invali-
dating N. r. A., said it is not used
as a term of derogation. He con-
tinued
I'VE use it rather to explain the
tedious delays and the local antag-
onisms which beset our early paths,
and we use it, perhaps. to remind our
citizens of today that the automobile,
the railroad, the airplane, the elec-
trical impulse over the wire, and
through the ether leave to no citizen
an excuse for sectionalism, for delay
In the execution of the public busi-
ness or for failure to maintain a
full understanding of the accelera-
ton of the processes of civilization"
Said the Chief Justice:
IF our checks and balances some
times prevent the speedy action
which is thought desirable, they also
assure in the long run a more de-
llberate judgment. And what the
people want they generally get. With
the ultimate power of change
(see ROOSEVELT, Page A-4J