The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-04

tAAooS WIZ WAA oSn eSe S'
renewal or an original grant OF
that confidence.
They have the undoubted right
TO this. They have the right TO
make all the comparisons which
are available. They have the right
TO examine the measure OF success
or fruitfulness which has ac-
companied the administration OF
power by men or parties In the
past, In order to judge Its proba-
hilities In the future.
: In doing this, they, as well as
we, should insulate ourselves rs
far as possible from the marrow
partlsanshlp which claims all
virtue for itself and denies II TO
all others.
In this spirit I shall discuss the
record which has been made dur
Ing these past seven years under
the leadership OF Franklin D.
Roosevelt.
Unique Period
These have been unique years
In the history OF our country and
OF the world. Problems so battling
and stupendous, so intimately in
terwoven with our individual and
collective lives, and yet so far
reaching In their effect upon our
present and future outlook as q
people, have arisen at every turn
OF the road and at every step we
have taken, that the wonder Is not
so much that we have travelled so
far and accomplished so much,
but that we did not surrender to
the memorable fate which oil pes
simists announced had overtaken
US,
We live IN q world that refuses
10 be stationary. We live In q world
that Is peopled by seething bill
lions OF human souls, who, II pos
sessed OF normal souls, are striv-
Ing for q better world and for O
better place In that world for
themselves and for their children.
In the effort TO attain that goal,
clashes OF personal interests, OF
group interests, OF racial interests,
OF national and international In
terests, are inevitable, and these
clashes leave their scars upon the
face and heart OF humanity In our
day, just as they have done In all
the ages OF mans history.
In the effort 10 bring some form
OF order OF the resulting chaos,
10 clear away the debris which
has choked the channels OF prog
reSs, and TO coordinate the moral
and intellectual strength OF the
masses whose faces were set toward
the goal OF their aspirations, gov
ernmentS have been ordained
Sometimes they have been I'm.
posed on the people by brutal and
ruthless methods. Sometimes they
have been set up by the peoples
themselves, based upon the In.
alienable right OF every human
being who submits TO authority TO
have q voice In It's creation.
u Is possible for mo 70 speak
on this occasion only In the barest
outline OF the record OF these past
seven years carved out OF the his
tory OF the United States. II In
speaking OF this record I appear
10 DO somewhat partisan, I can
assure you that ! am not more 10
than those who condemn IL with
bitter indiscrimination and seek
10 destroy the faith OF the Amer
lean people In q great new era In
order that on the wreck OF that
destruction they themselves may
rise 10 power and authority.
Pronted by Errors
Remembering our own repeated
failures In the art OF accurate ap-
praisal, We may temper our judy
mentB concerning any man who
has failed at prophecy concerning
the ability or the achievements OF
another. But II We are fair, which
connotcs the element OF justice,
wo should DO able 10 recognize and
admit the greatness OF o man on
the basis OF o record OF undisputed
achievement, even though that
man may DO our contemporary,
and even though some OF those
who indulge In tho appraisement
may differ from him on some or
many proposals or positions.
30 today ! feel that we are Jus.
tined In pausing for n brief period
10 pay tribute 10 q man who will
DO honored by countless genera.
lions OF Americans yet unborn,
and 10 q record made by him and
those who have labored with him
IN behalf OF tho American people,
No president since or save Lin
coin has faced 30 grave q crisis In
our political life as did President
Roosevelt on that gray day OF
March 9TH, 1888, when he took the
oath OF ONCE as president OF the
United States. Because we are
prone TO forget dangers when they
have disappeared, let me briefly
recall the conditions which faced
him and the country on that his
tori: day.
But our opponents complain
that, although the detectives of
this program are laudahle, we have
not done II In the right way. They
with straight face announce
that they could have done II bet
ter, and that they can administer
these laws and these programs
more wisely and more faithfully
than those who are responsible for
their Inauguration.
They say that the cost has been
too great: that because OF this we
are headed toward bankruptcy.
Let US take o look at the record.
On the fourth Of March, 1920, four
years before Mr.. Roosevelt was In
augurated. the public debt OF the
United States was a little more
than $i6,000.000.O0O. On the 4th
OF March. 1888. 1t was a little more
than s22, 600. 900, 900, an increase Of
more than $4,000. 100000. During
the last three wears Of the i1revi.