Evening star., 1944-07-21
Roosevelt Speech Accepting Fourth. Term Nomination
Declares Issue Worme Presidential compogn Whether
sto Be Turned Over inexperienced Hands
By the Associated Press.

WITH PRESIDENT ROOSE-
VELT AT A PACIFIC COAST
NAVAL BASE, July 2l.-Fol-
lo,Ding is. the tert OF President
RooseDelt's speech accepting a
fourth-term nomination from
the Democratic National Con-
pentton last night.
Members of the convention,
my friends:
I have already indicated to you
why I accept the nomination
which you have offered me-in
spite of my desire to retire to the
quiet of a private life.
You in this convention are
aware of what I have sought to.
gain for the Nation, and you
have asked me to continue.
1t seems wholly likely that
within the next four years our
armed forces, and those of our
allies, will have gained a COM
plete victory over Germany and
Japan, and that the world once
more will be at pesce-under a
system, we hope, which will pre-
vent a new world war. In any
event, new hands will then have
full opportunity to realize the
ideals which we seek.
In the last three elections the
people of the United States have
transcended party affiliation. Not
only Democrats. but also forward
looking Republicans and millions
of independent voters have sought
consistently-and with fair sue
cess--to advance the lot of the
average American citizen who
had been so forgotten during the
period after the last war. I am
confident that they will continue
to look to that same kind OF lib
eralism to build our economy for
the future.
I am sure that you will under
men when say that my decision,
expressed to you formally tonight,
is based solely on a sense of obli-
cation to serve If called upon to
do so by the people of the United
States.
Shall not Campaign
In the Usual Sense.
I shall not campaign in the
usual sense, for the office. In
these days of tragic sorrow, l do
not consider it fitting. Besides,
in these days of global warfare,
l shall not be able to find the
time. shall. however, feel free
to report to the people the facts
about matters of concern to them
and especially to correct any
Misrepresentation.
During the past few days I
have been coming across the
whole width of the continent, to
a naval base, where l am speak
ing to you now from my train.
AS l was crossing the fertile
lands and the wide plains and
the Great Divide, could not fail
to think of the new relationship
between the people of our farms
and cities and villages and the
people Of the rest of the world
overseas-on the islands Of the
Pacific. in the Far East, and in
the other Americas, in Britain
and Normandy and Germany
and Poland and Russia itself.
For Oklahoma and California
are becoming part of all these
distant spots as greatly as Mas
sachusetts and Virginia were
a part of the European picture In
1776. Today, Oklahoma and Cali
fornia are being defended in
Normandy and Saipan: and they
must be defended there - for
what happens in Normandy and
Saipan vitality affects the secu-
rity and well-being of Oklahoma
and California.
Mankind changes the scope
and breadth of its thoughts and
vision slowly indeed. In the days
of the Roman Empire eyes were
focused on Europe and the Med
iterranean area. The civilization
in the Far East was barely
known. The American CONT
nents were unheard Of
Even after the people of
Europe began to spill over to
other continents. the people of
North America in Colonial days
knew only their Atlantic sea-
board and small portion of the
other Americas, and they turned
most of the time for trade
and international relationship to
Europe. Africa then was con-
sidered only as the provider of
human chattelS Asia was essen
TALLY unknown to them.
During the 18th century era of
development and expansion of
this continent we felt a natural
isolation - geographic, economic
and political-from the vast world
which lay overseas.
Not until this generation have
people here and elsewhere been
SoiltpSllCu ulolc dIlu IilOle W
widen the orbit of their vision to
include every part of the world.
1t has been wrench perhaps
but a necessary one.
IsoIationists and Ostriches
Becoming Extinct.
1t is good that we are all get
ting that broader vision. For we
shall need it after the war The
isolationists and ostriches who
plagued our thinking before Pearl
Harbor are becoming slowly ex-
tinct. The American people now
know that all nations of the
world-large ana small-will have
! to play their appropriate part in
keeping the peace by force, and
in deciding peacefully the dis
putes which might lead to war.
We all know how truly the
world has become one-that if
Germany and Japan, for exam
pie, were to come through this
war with their PHILOSOPHERS es-
tabliShed and their armies iptoct