Evening star., 1948-07-04
independence and Tyrunny

as
independence and Tyranny
At time when vast segments OF hu-
manity are in the pitiless grip of one OF
history's blackest and most militant tyr
annies, Americans have reason to take q
solemn view of the meaning of the Fourth
Of July
A holiday spirit, fireworks, oratory, pa
rades, flag g-waving-these are the good and
pleasant things that have come, by custom
and tradition, to mark our celebration of
the day. But they are not enough. They
are mere outward expressions-a kind of
patriotic ritual that can add up to little
more than emptiness If behind it, within
each Of us, there is no awareness Of the
true significance of the great event that
calls it forth.
For we are living in an age when the
Declaration Of Independence, as never be-
fore since 1776. is an article of American
faith that must be affirmed and reafflrmed
with concrete deeds as well as with high
sounding words: It is the sum of every
thing we cherish in our free way of life.
1t Is that cornerstone of our Republic
which proclaims that under the laws of
nature and of natures God we are en-
dowed with certain unalienable rights
making us our own masters, to be governed
only as we consent to be governed, and to
be spared the evils of despotism. This rich
and wonderful heritage of ours, however,
is not imperishable in itself. 1t can crack.
1t can crumble. 1t can wither away. It
will endure only If we and those who
come after us do the things that must be
done to make 1t endure. Lip service alone
will not protect and perpetuate it.
And what are the things that we must
1t that our domestic affairs are maintained
In reasonable order, that our economy Is
kept vigorous, that the seeming inevita-
bility of big government Is not allowed to
eat away our essential liberties, and that
our overall political and social system,
while holding fast to the basic tenets of
the founding fathers, does not stagnate
for want of boldness and vision in adjust
ing itself to an ever-changing world Be-
yond that. perhaps less obviously but cer-
tainly not less necessarily, we must see to
it that our Nation plays to the full the
titanic international role its greatness and
power have thrust upon it. This Is one
OF the most towering imperatives of our
time, and we must do what it demands
not merely for the general peace and
happiness of mankind, but primarily
and quite selfshly-for our own well-being
and security.
To appreciate this we have only to give
thought to the profoundly changed and
foreShortened nature of the world in the
new and revolutionary age of the atom
and kindred good-and-evil marvels like
supersonic flight. In such world. wher-
ever freedom is threatened, as it is now
being threatened by the ruthless and ever
expanding forces of Soviet totalitarianism,
our own American freedom is threatened.
Hence, to safeguard that freedom, to pre-
serve the incalculably precious heritage
passed on to us with the Declaration of
Independence, we must take the lead in
uniting with like-minded nations in what
ever measures are necessary to cope with
the menace before us and render it so
harmless that mankind will be able again
to find peace of mine and enjoy some de-
cent measure of happiness and collective
safety.
In 1921, in a letter to John Adams.
Thomas Jefferson gave us nearly perfect
text for this day on this point. II shall
not die without hope that light and
liberty are on steady advance" he wrote.
"And even should the cloud of barbarism
and despotism again obscure the science
and liberties of Europe, this country re-
mains to preserve and restore light and
liberty to them. In short, the flames
kindled on the Fourth of July, 1776, have
spread over too much of the globe to be
extinguished by the feeble engines of
despotism: on the contrary they will con-
sumo these engines and all who work
them"
Jefferson's words are even apter now
than when first written, and his hope is
as sound as ever. For despotisms engines
today, though not really feeble, are by no
means too strong for free men. With the
principles of the Declaration OF Independ-
ence as an inspiration to lovers of liberty
everywhere, we and our friends abroad
have it within our power, if we use that
power wisely, to stop the further march of
tyranny and in time reverse 1t altogether.
preeidon+ GniIanoe