Evening star., 1948-06-23

tor, not from the State. That II
our paint Of departure from sll
others. This spiritual concept,
whatever oW faults may be, has
guided CUE people to 4 life. not
only Of material abundance, but
also . life Of liberty and human
dignity.
To-day the American people have
reached IN historic stage which has
come to = few strong nations in
their ability to contribute to moral
Leadership In the world. Few such
nations have come upon that task
with 70 few liabilities. In these 80
years Of wars We alone have taken
mo- peoples land; We have oppressed
no race Of man. We have faced all
the world In friendship, with COM
passion, with . genuine love and
for our fellow men. In
war, In peace, in disaster, We have
aided those whom We believed to
be In the right. We have hated
war: we have loved peace.
What other nation has such 4
record?
Calls fer Party Aid.
It Is these concepts Of your coun-
try that this party must bear high
as the banner Of . marching army.
From here free men and women can
cheer free men and women the
world over that the day is not done.
The night is not come-that human
liberty lives - and lives eternally
here upon this continent, here
among us.
Therefore unusual responsibilities
devolve upon this convention. There
may be some Of you who believe
that you have come here only to
pass upon . platform, and to select
candidates for President and Vice
President. Your greater task by far
is to generate 4 spirit which will
rekindle in every American q love
not only for his country but for the
American civilization. You are here
to feed the reviving fires Of spirit
ual fervor which once made the
word American a stirring descrip-
ton OF q man who lived and died
for human liberty, who knew no pri-
vate interest, no personal ambition,
no popular acclaim, no advantage OF
pride or place which overshadows
the burning love for the freedom Of
man.
Great as your problems are, they
are no greater than Americans have
met before your time. You are no
less able or courageous than they
were.
Therefore, I repeat, what you say
or do here is Of transcendent i'm
portance.
If you produce nothing but i'm
provised platitudes, you will give nc
hope.
, II you produce no leadership here
no vfrile fighters for the right, you
will have done nothing of historic
significance.
II you follow the counsel Of those
who believe that politics Is only q
game to be played for personal ad-
vantage, you are wasting your time
and effort.
Opposes Sectisnalism.
II you will calculate what will
please this or that little segment ot
our populati and satisfy this o.
that pressure group or sectional in.
terest, you will be betraying YOU
opportunity, and tragically missing
the call Of your time.
II you temporize with collectivisn
you will stimulate its growth anc
the defeat Of free men.
If, on the other hand, as a ma.
ture and inspired political party, you
face the truth that we are in q
critical battle to safeguard our Ma
ton and civilization which, under
God, have brought to us = life Of
liberty, then you will be guided in
every step to restore the founda-
tions of faith, Of morals, and OF
right thinking. If you choose your
leadership with full recognition that
only those can lead you who believe
in your ideals. who seek not only
victory but the opportunity to serve
IN the fight, then you will issue
from this hall, = clarion call, in as
pure note, in as full tone rs that
call to arms which your politica.
ancestors issued At Repon. Wis.
when this party was born to make
all men free.
And 40 I bespeak to you tonight
to make yourselves worthy Of the
victory.