Evening star., 1948-03-06
By cordelI Hull
Assisted by Andrew Bsrdins)
CHAPTER XXXvI.

In the three-quarters century OF
my life I have seen this Nation
grow from q continental to q world
power, with interests in every corner
Of the globe.
We are today powerful in arms
and powerful in the cause Of peace
and humanity. But with our great
strength have come great RESPONSE
bilities. The heaviest Of these,
which we have accepted in the light
of our power and duties, Is that OF
providing our full share OF leader
ship toward cooperation among
nations for peace, Justice, freedom
and progress.
It has been a popular view in the
past, supported by tradition, that
the United States has nothing to
fear, that the future is assured. that
our great resources and organizing
ability guarantee our destiny and
that our institutions will endure
forever. No belief could be more
dangerous.
We have, in fact, reached the
time when we should stop, look and
listen. We should analyze ourselves
and our position in the world with
sharp introspection.
Organized society during the past
generation has, in my opinion, de-
teriorated.
Humanity in Decline.
We have seen a striking deteriora =
tion of the whole political interna-
tional structure, with threats OF
destruction Of the entire interna-
tional economic structure. In polit-
ical and economic affairs the hu-
man race has suffered q steady
decline and it will not do to put
every one to sleep by singing OF our
progress In science and invention.
Unless the citizens of our own and
other countries keep themselves in
formed, and give something Of the
same degree Of thought and atten-
ton to public affairs that they do
to their private businesses. we are
going to fail signally in dealing with
our own internal affairs and the
problems Of peace, greatly aug
mented by the invention OF the
atomic bomb.
Democracy Is not static struc-
ture, like q cathedral or . sky
scraper. Once erected, 1t cannot
be expected to stand by itself from
generation to generation. It Is q
living organism and therefore must
be cared for, guarded. nurtured and
guided.
We cannot rest on past achieve
ments and present possessions. All
the liberties we have today came
from resistance to tyranny. either
domestic or foreign, and most OF
them were won by blood and iron
Liberty came through the efforts OF
those men and women who were
willing to die for it. We are their
heirs. and must be vigilant to guard
our heritage.
Morality In Government Needed.
We have q desperate need for
more religion and morality as the
background for government. The
religious and moral foundations for
thought and conduct require
strengthening here. as well a.
throughout the world. There Is nc
higher civilizing influence than re-
ligious and moral concepts. Cor
ruption and tyranny can be driven
out of government only when these
concepts give men the faculty te
recognize such evils and th'
strength to eliminate them.
The States should exercise cease.
less vigilance to protect the civi
rights Of their citizens. The righi
Of all citizens freely to vote should
be guarded. and their pathway t<
the voting booth should not be ob'
structed
7 believe It vitality necessary thai
Congress and the Executive observe
strict economy in Government. ane
that the States, counties and cities
do likewise. In this modern worlo
there is little regard for either pub.
lie or private economy on the part
Of an increasing number OF omc1als
and individuals.
Let us adhere. as closely as devel-
oping conditions permit, to ou1
time -honored policy of individual
initiative and free enterprise. Gov
ernment has an essential role OF
supervision and inspection to fill tt
insure that free enterprise is truly
free and fair. and the people as
whole are protected. but 1t must
not kill the spirit that made oul
Nation great.
Nonpartisan Policy Urged.
i Congress and the executive have
an inescapable responsibility tt
keep our foreign policy on . non
partisan. basis.
I continue to believe that thu
tvo-thirds requirement for Senate
consent to the ratification of treaties
. should be changed by Constitutions
! amendment to q simple majority.
1 The American people. Congress
and the executive must keep sharl
watch lest the United States re-
turn again to the dangerous polio!
. Of isolation. Two major wars with
| in a generation should have con
vinced all Americans that we ar
, an important part Of the world
. that conflict abroad cannot but al
feet us, and that our welfare. peace
and security are tied to those o
other nations. We have responsi
bility for leadership and cooper
alton which we cannot avoid, II VI
would
!, In the past. until 1884, perhaps
E our most fragrant violation OF ou
2 duties to the world was economic
= olationism. High tariffs do no
bring us prosperity. They do orin'
: us unstable surpluses at home ant
the resentment Of nations abroad.
President Washington spok!
r against permanent alliances will
5 other nations, although he counte
nanced temporary alliances. We ar
, now, however. a member OF tn
: United Nations, which Is in tn
= nature of an alliance against ag
r eression. Let none OF us be shocke'
tkNnAf DcnAlo( !