The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-06

tlul lICCt 1lAS toSS0lSl I1lS eve
ming carries forward an old party
custom. In this annual tribute to
the memory of Thomas jefferson,
we who are members of the
marty he founded the D e M
~ocratic Party - take great pride
and feel deep satisfaction.
We know that as long as w e
remain free, the spirit of Thomas
Jefferson lives in America. H i S
spirit is the spirit OF freedom.
;Te are heartened by the know
ledge that the light he kindled a
century and a half ago shines to-
day, in the United States. 1t
shines even more strongly a n d
steadily than in his time. What
was then an untried faith is now
q living reality.
But we know that no class, no
party, no nation, has a monopoly
on %Jefferson's principles. Out of
the silence Of oppressed peoples,
out of despair Of those who have
lost freedom. there comes to us
an expression of longing. Repeat
Cd again and again, in many
tongues, from many directions,
it is a plea of men, women and
children for the freedom that
Thomas Jefferson proclaimed as
an inalienable right.
When weather the cry for free
dom arising from shores beyond
u own, we ear take heart from
The words of Thomas Jefferson.
In his letter to President Monroe,
urging the adoption of what we
now know as the Monroe doc
trine, he wrote:
Nor is the occasion to be
sighted which this proposition
offers of declaring our protest
against the atrocious violations OF
the rights Of nations by the in
reference of any one in the in
ternal affairs of another
We, like Jefferson, have witness
sed atrocious violations of the
rights of nations.
We, too, have regarded them as
occasions not to be sighted.
We, too, have declared our pro-
test.
We must make that protest
effective by aiding those peoples
whose freedoms endangered
by foreign pressures.
We must take a positive stand.
It is no longer enough merely to
say I'VE don't want war;" W e
must act in time-ahead of time
to stamp out the smolderlng
beginnings of any conflict that
may threaten to spread over the
world.
We know how the fire starts.
We have seen it before-aggres-
sion by the strong against the
weak, openly by the use of armed
force and secretly by infilitration.
We know how the fire spreads.
And we know how 1t ends.
Let us not underestimate the
task before us. The burden of our
responsibility today is great
er. even considering the size and
resources of our expanded nation,
than it was in the time of Jefer-
Son and Monroe. For the peril to
mans freedom that existed then
and exists now on a much
smaller earth - an earth whose
broad oceans have shrunk
and whose natural protec-
tons have been taken away by
new weapons of destruction.
What is the responsibility that
We must assume?
Our responsibility is to stand
guard before the edifice OF lasting
peace which, after so long a time,
is at last being built.
That eGifice is the United Ma
tons.
The function OF the United Ma
tons is to quench the flames
wherever they may break out; to
watch throughout the world and
%extinbuish every spark that comes
from a difference between gov
ernments; to do this, if possible,
though the machinery o. peaceful
arbitration, but to do it in any
case. This is so, even If armed
conflict must be prevented by the
use Of an International po-
a Ice force.
We believe that formula is sound
and workable. Our faith in it is
strong and resolute. The United
Nations is mans hope. Of putting
out, and keeping out, the fires OF
war for all time. In supporting
the United Nations we must, when
s necessary, supplement its activi-
ties. By aiding free nations
to maintain their freedom
8 We strengthen the United Nations
n the performance of its func-
tons.
Our foreign policy must not be
wrecked on the rocks OF Partisan
chip.
United support OF a policy that
serves the interests Of the nation
as a whole must be our aim.
l wish to commend the efforts
OF those members OF both parties
who have worked, side by side,
TO achieve this goal.
To meet the responsibilities
placed upon us today this nation
must be strong. A strong United
States means a country that main
taIns a military power common
furate with its responsibilities. 1t
means a country of sound domes-
Tic economy. It means a country
that holds its place in the fore
front of industrial production and
continues its leadership in Great
ing the chniques of abundance.
And it means, most of all, a strong
united confident people, clear IN
Inc knowledge of their countrys
destiny, mistaken and unshakaole
IN their resolve to live in a Worlo
" 1ree peoples at peace.
No matter how great our mill
tsfy potential may be, military po-
F tentlal a1opn ic mt enough. 1T is