The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-08-09
EXHIBIT A: THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

cause of the discovery of the secret of
all life-atomic energy-this is the
last chance for humanity to catch the
boat This is what comes of sharing
the ultimate secret of nature. We
share that now and that is why we
need so desperately to match power
with responsibility, why we need to be
a great people. We are the last hope
of mankind. That is why people stand
there looking at us with anxious, star
ing eyes. Since they know, where else
would they turn their eyes?
Last Turn Is Our Turn
They know that the LAST turn is
our turn. They know that the govern
ment of the United States is the peo-
pie of the United States and the Gus
todian of the power of life or death
They know their lives depend on the
ability of the United States to avoid
the abuse of power, the ability to use
power for good, for building, not de-
stroying.
Put yourself in their place for a
moment. Stand there looking in at us,
at Americans, what do you see? Do
you see a people gravely preparing to
meet the test of great responsibility?
Studying to learn how to use power
well, to avoid its misuse? This is
something no other people in the his
tory of man ever did; it isn't easy; it
needs plenty of thought and plenty of
concentration. 1t needs more than
anything, the peoples will to work a
miracle.
Or do you see people confused by
babbling politicians, distracted from
study by nostalgia for the preoccupa-
lions of a past era? Are the people of
the United States looking over the
horizon to the future, or are they
standing in a nylon line? Are they
concentrating on history in the MAX
ing, or are they trying to decide be-
tween models of vacuum cleaners?
Are they praying for wisdom or wish
ing for a redwood porch suite on
wheels? Are they working to streng-
then the muscles of vision. or are they
wavering between the enamel and the
maker us cubes an hour, 1t says, with
the automatic dump and refilD? Are
they drawing a careful design for liv-
ing based on the lessons history
strives to teach, or are they wondering
if they will be able to keep the baby
out of the electric fly-trap?
Not a Matter of Writing a Check
Civilization is not a matter of writ
ing a check on a bank. Civilization is
the treasury of the contributions of
the creative mind of man. Creation is
not something man does in his idle
moments; 1t is not the accomplish
ment of superficiality. Creation is to
give birth laboriously and in pain,
it be creation of man or of
IDEAS. Creative ideas are born of the
5inews and the blood and the labor
If the mind. The battle for the growth
md survival of ideas is the battle of
No state of civilization is
stationary; 1t either goes forward or
1t either grows and blooms
,r it withers and dies
So it is big job, this choosing of
wise and responsible government 1t
s a job a GREAT American people
an do. 1t requires two kinds of CO.
'rdinated effort-co-ordinated effort
# the brain, the heart, the conscience,
he will and the spirit of each adult,
md then the co-ordinated effort of all
adults together.
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES CAN ONLY BE AS
WISE AND AS RESPONSIBLE AS
THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES