Evening star., 1940-11-05
Texts of Last WiIIkie Talks
Dangers From Within Greatest Facing
u. S., Republican Nominee Asserts


address ouer the Columbia Broad
casting System last night fol-
IolDS:
People of America:
Tonight, on the eve of one OF
the most important elections In
our history, I wish to talk with
you-iust very briefy-about this
campaign.
During the last several weeks
our cause has moved irresistlbly
toward victory. Millions upon
millions of citizens who have
heard the arguments OF both
sides, have joined our side. They
have joined us because they see
that we alone can assure the
principles of democracy, create
opportunity and preserve free
dom.
The news coming to us tonight
Is that, even now, the surge OF
that tide continues with accel-
Grated power News of our vic
tory comes pouring in. 1t comes
by telephone, by telegraph and by
letter. 1t tells us that the peo-
pie are determined that tomor-
row they will make democracy
endure in our land.
AS you all know, I have been
travelling through America for
the past seven weeks. 1 have
seen millions of you who are lis
tening tonight. I think it is safe
to say that no man ever saw so
many Americans in so short a
time, or ever spoke to so many.
Invisible Bond Binds
Adherents of Faith.
And first of all, tonight, I
want to thank you-every one OF
you.
want to thank those of you
who have worked so hard in this
cause. should like to shake
every one of you by the hand and
look every one of you in the eye.
Between US there is great, in
visible bond-the bond that
binds free men together-faith
in our principles, faith in the law.
faith in the Constitution of the
United States.
I want to thank all of you who
came down to the railroad depots
70 listen so attentively, and to
give us your encouragement. l
want to thank all of you who
lined the streets of your great
cities to cheer our cause as we
passed BY.
I owe you a great debt, people
of America. You have shown
me what democracy really is.
Many of us understand democ-
racy as we read it in books or
in the laws of the land. But
you have enabled me to visualize
1t. I can see democracy. 1 can
see it now as men and women
all of you in every part of the
United States. I understand 1t
better than I ever did before.
It is only through free dis
cussion of our problems that
solutions can be found. Any
other method will lead eventu-
ally to the solution of so-called
superman-and that is not the
method of democracy.
That is the reason 1 asked for
direct debate. just as the third
term candidate had done eight
wears ago. Although that sug-
gestion. made for your benefit,
was ignored by the third-term
candidate, we-you and found
the way to meet on common
ground to discuss our common
problems, and the future Of our
freedom.
Throughout our crusade, Amer
leans came to see and hear me,
not because of me as an in
dividual, but because they felt
anxious. They felt they had
been bereft of dependable leader
ship. They came in search Of a
new leadership, a new horizon
which will open up before them
tomorrow.
T believe that there is only
one danger that democracy needs
to fear. This Is not danger
from without but a danger from
within. When we who possess
freedom are strong within our
selves, we need fear no aggressor.
We have proved time after time
that our system of free enterprise
and human rights can outdo
any other system. We can build
stronger industries, healthier
human beings. and-if necessary
TO defend ourselves-mightier
armies.
Only the Productive Strong,
Only the Strong Are Free.
It Is only when democracy
weakens from within that dicta-
tors and other aggressors begin
to look successful. OF course,
when our industries are idle or
sluggish, 1t is easy for Hitler or
some other dictator to outstrip
us in the production of airplanes
or almost anything else. When
millions of our people are un-
employed we cannot hope to be
as healthy or as vigorous as we
would be If everybody were at
work. Everybody IN America
must have a real job with real
pay. Once more I say to you,
only the productive can be
strong, and only the strong can
be free.
The greatest danger to demo-
cracy is that the citizens them
selves, who have the final au-
thority, may become careless
about it. They become used to its
benefits and take them for
granted. They also take for
granted many of our democratic
institutions. They forget that such
institutions must be constantly
guarded. Apathy undermlnes
liberty.
Democracy can't be ne6 3cted,
fellow Americans. 1t doesn't just
take care of itself. You must take
care of it.
For instance, tomorrow, 1t is
rl1,fu tn vote C0V