Evening star., 1940-02-10

to save their own lives is also axio-
matte by now. That the Soviet
Union would, because Of this, de-
clare war on the United States is
about the most absurd thought that
I have ever heard advanced in the
fifty -eight years of my life. That
we are going to war with the Soviet
Union is an equally silly thought.
And, therefore, while I have not the
slightest objection in the world to
the passing of futile resolutions by
conventions, I do think that there
is room for improvement in COM
mon sense thinking and definite
room for improvement in the art of
not passing resolutions concerning
things one knows very little about.
And so suggest that all of you
smile and-don't do it again.
More than 20 years ago, while
most of you were very young chill
dren, had the utmost sympathy
for the Russian people. In the early
days of Communism I recognized
that many leaders in Russia were
bringing education and better health
and better opportunity to millions
who had been kept in ignorance
and serfdom under the imperial
regime. I disliked the regimenta-
ton under Communism I abhorred
the indiscriminate killings of thou
sands of innocent victims. I heartily
deprecated the Punishment of re-
ligion-though I knew that before
long Russia would return to religion
for the simple reason that four or
nve thousands years of recorded
history have proved that mankind
has always believed in God in spite
of dozens of abortive attempts to
exile God.
I hoped that Russia would work
out its own problems and that their
government would eventually be-
come peace-loving. popular gov
ernment which would not interfere
with the integrity of its neighbors.
Communists Must Stay
Within the Constitution.
That hope is today either shat
tered or put away in storage against
a better day. The Soviet Union. as
a matter of practical fact, known
to you and known to all the world
is dictatorship as absolute as any
other dictatorship in the world. II
has allied itself with another die
tatorship and it has invaded a neigh.
Dor so inf1nitesimally small that i,
could do no injury to the Sovie,
Union, and seeks only to live at peace
as democracy, and liberal, for
ward-looking democracy at that.
1t has been said that some of you
are Communists. That is an un-
popular term these days AS Amer
leans you have right to call your
selves Communists. You have q
right, peacefully and openly. to ad-
vocate certain ideals of theoretical
Communism: but as Americans you
have not only right but a sacred
duty to confine your advocacy Of
changes in law to the methods pre-
scribed by the Constitution of the
United States-and you have nc
American right, by act or deed OF
any kind. to subvert the Govern
ment and the Constitution of this
Nation.
That, 1 am confident. receives the
overwhelming support of the great
majority of your organization and of
every other large organization OF
American youth. The things you and
I represent are essentially the same
and it will be your task, when I am
gone from the scene. to carry on the
fight for continuance Of liberal
government, an improvement of its
methods, the effectiveness of it's work
Above all, we must help those who
have proved that they will try ever
lastingly to make things a little bet
ter with each succeeding year. Keep
your ideals high. keep both feet on
the ground and keep everlastingly
at il