Evening star., 1948-01-07

gress on the state OF the Union:
Mr.. President, Mr.. Speaker, men,
bers OF the Eghtieth Congress:
We are here today to consider the
state Of the Union.
On this occasion, above all others,
the Congress and the President
should concentrate their attention
not upon party but upon country;
not upon the things which divide us
but upon those which bind us to-
gether-the enduring principles Of
our American system, and our COM
mon aspirations for the future well
fare and security Of the people Of
the United States.
/: The United States has become
great because we, as people, have
been able to work together for great
objectives even while differing about
details.
The elements Of our strength are
many. They include our democratic
Government, our economic system,
our great natural resources But
these are only partial explanations.
Source Of Strength Spiritual:
The basic source of our strength
Is spiritual. For we are people
with a faith. We believe IN the
dignity OF man. We believe that he
was created in the image of the
Father of us all.
We do not believe that men exist
merely to strengthen the state or
to be cogs in an economic machine.
We do believe that governments are
created to serve the people and that
economic systems exist to minister
to their wants. We have a profound
devotion to the welfare and rights
Of the individual as human being.
The faith of our people has par
ticular meaning at this time in his
tory because of the unsettled and
changing state of the world.
The victims Of war in many lands
are striving to rebuild their lives,
and are seeking assurance that the
tragedy of war will not occur again.
Throughout the world new ideas
are challenging the old. Men Of all
nations are re-examining the beliefs
by which they live. Great scientific
and industrial changes have re-
leased new forces which will affect
the future course of civilization.
The state of our Union reflects
the changing nature of the modern
world. On all sides there Is hearten-
ing evidence Of great energy-of Ca
pacity for economic Development
and, even more important, capacity
for spiritual growth. But accom-
panying this great activity there
are equally great questions-great
anxieties-great aspirations. They
represent the concern of an enlight-
ened people that conditions should
be so arranged as to make life more
worthwhile.
We must devote ourselves to find
ing answers to these anxieties and
aspirations. We seek answers which
will embody the moral and spiritual
elements of tolerance, unselflshness
and brotherhood, upon which true
freedom and opportunity most rest.
Can Benefit by Past.
AS we examine the state of our
Union today, we can benefit from
viewing it on q basis of the accom-
plishments Of the last decade and
our goals for the next. How far
have we come during the last 10
years and how far can we 60 during
the next 10? -
1t was 10 years ago that the de-
termination of dictators to wage
war upon mankind became ap-
parent. The years that followed
brought untold death and destruc-.
ton.
We shared in the human suffering
of the war, but we were fortunate
enough to escape most of warssde-
struction. We were able through
these 10 years to expand the produc-
tive strength of our farms and
factories.
More important however, is the
fact that these years brought us
new courage and new confidence in
the ideals of our free democracy.
Our deep belief in freedom and JUS
tice was reinforced in the crucible
of war.
| On the foundations of our greatly
strengthened economy and our re-
newed confidence in democratic
values, we can continue to move
forward.
There are some who look with
fear and distrust upon planning for
the future. Yet our great national
achievements Nave been attained by
those with vision. Our Union was
formed, our frontiers were pushed
back, and our great industries were
built by men who looked ahead.
I proposed that we look ahead
today toward those goals for the
future which have the greatest
bearing upon the foundations Of
our democracy and the happiness
of our people.
I do so, confident in the thought
that with clear objectives and with
firm determination we can, in the
next 10 years, build upon the ac-
complishments of the past decade
to achieve glorious future. Year
by year, beginning now, we must
make a substantial part of this
progress.
/ Our first goal is to secure fully
the essential human rights of our
citizens.
Some Denied Equal Opportunity.
The United States has always had
a deep concern for human rights.
Religious freedom, free speech and
freedom of thought are cherished
realities in our land. Any denial
OF human rights is denial of the
basic beliefs of democracy and of
our regard for the worth of each
individual.
Today, however, some of our citi-
zens are still denied equal oppor-
tunity for education, for Jobs and
economic advancement, and for the
expression of their views at the
polls. Most serious of all, some are
denied equal protection under our
laws. Whether discrimination is
based on race, or creed, or color, or
land of origin, it is utterly con-
trary to American ideals of de-