Evening star., 1940-12-28
Rancor and Bigotry
Foes Of Democracy,
Justice Hughes Says
Accepts Citation for
His Contribution to
Human Relations

"The deadly enemies of a true
democracy are "rancor and bigotry,
racial animosities and intolerance, :"
Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes
said yesterday in accepting a cita-
ton from the National Conference
Of Christians ard Jews for his con-
tribution toward the improvement
of human relations.
The Chief Justice spoke at a pri-
vate ceremony at his residence
Those present included DR.. Arthur
H. Compton of Chicago and Roger
w. Straus of New York, co-chairmen
of the conference; Basil O'Connor
of New York, representing Prof
Carlton J. H. Hayes of Columbia
University. also a co-chairman, and
DR.. Everett R. Clinchy, president of
the conference.
Deeply" Grateful.
Expressing himself as deeply
grateful that I had the opportunity
to join in this organized effort to
promote continuous and effective
expression of the sentiment which
vitalizes our democracy" Justice
Hughes said:
Popular elections express the will
of the people, but back of that will
must be the true democratic spirit
which alone can save us from the
excesses of the rule Of force.
Liberty cannot be conserved by
ma jority rule unless the majority
hold sacred basic individual rights
regardless Of race or creed, so that,
along with our differences of view,
political and religious. we have a
deep and abiding sense Of human
dignity and worth and hence Of
our capacity for friendly co-opera-
ton in pursuit of common ideals of
justice.
"Rancor and bigotry. racial ami
mosities, are wholly incompatible
with that cooperation. They are
the deadly enemies of true democ-
racy, more deadly than any external
force, because they undermine the
very foundation of democratic ef-
fort"
Praises Conference Work.
Justice Hughes praised the work
of the National Conference Of Chris
tians and Jews, saying 1t ''is devoted
to the promotion of national unity
the unity of free people with that
respect for individual rights which
makes possible the attainment of
our common ends.
IT congratulate the members of
the National Conference" he said,
ION its notable success In directing
the thought of the American people
to this essential objective. and I
trust that in the years before us,
with the increasing need for that
effort, the conference will have
constantly widening influence"
The citation described Justice
Hughes as eminent among those
whose influence has encouraged
Americans of all religious faiths not
to hold aloof from one another,
but, through conference and CO.
operation, to sustain the spiritual
and ethical standards of the Ma
ton" 1t continued:
Chief Justice Hughes has always
exemplified the ideals of justice,
understanding, friendliness and CO.
operation among Protestants, Catho-
lies and Jews. In 1928 he was one
of the founders Of the National
Conference of Christians and Jews.
He thus contributed Of his states
manship to the creation of machin-
cry for conference and education in
interfaith relations.
"At this moment in history, when
the natural rights of man and the
spiritual values treasured by all re-
ligious groups are denied in many
parts Of the world, the American peo-
pie do well to reafnrm those rights
and values and to recognize the
support that has been given to their
maintenance by the championship
of Charles Evans Hughes.
Realizing the debt that the
United States owes the Chief JUS
tice for his contribution to the i'm
provement Of human relations. the
National Conference hereby dedi.
Gates Brotherhood Week-ths weak