The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1949-03-09
TRUMAN OPENS DAY

1SOIitliNC0 1Oui age 0l1Ct
lege for almost a quarter of a
century.
81 Since he assumed the presiden-
cy of this institution he has made
it focal point in our effort to
educate American youth in prin-
ciples of freedom under true de-
mocracy.
You know, there isn't a word
in the English language that has
been so sevely abused during the
last 10 years as that word DE-
MOCRACY. Some people make
a travesty of that word. That is
one of the greatest words in the
history of the English language,
and it should stand for Just ex-.
actly what we mean when we.
say democracy, and not for a
counterfeit.
DR.. Holt has brought to his
work distinguished leadership
with a background of accom-,
p1ishmeit in many fields. Al
though he will soon retire from
active academical work he will
continue his labors for peace and
international good will
u Never before has this country
, needed as it does today the lead
ership of thoroughly trained men
and women. We must have lead
ers inspired from their earliest
years with the ideals of democ-
racy.
Education is cur, first line 5of
defense. In the conflict of prin-
ciple and policy which divides
the world today, Americas hope
is in education. Through eduea-.
ton alone can we combat the
tenets of communism. TIE unfet-
tered soul of free men offers a
spiritual defense unconquered
and unconquerable.
We may not know what is be-
! hind the iron curtain, but we do
know that the intelligence of the
people in the embattled democ-
racies of Europe, who live in
front of the iron curtain, is the
worlds best hope today.
Education is the most import
ant task before us. The Congress
should enact legislation author
izing Federal grants to the States
to assist in meeting the operating
expenses of elementary and sec
ondary schools. There is general
agreement that such aid can be
given without interference with
State responsibility for the scope
and content of the teaching.
If our country is to retain its
freedom in a world of conflicting
political PHILOSOPHERS, we must
take steps to assure that every
American youth shall receive the
highest level of training by
! which he can profit.
A soundly conceived federal
scholarship program in our col
leges and universities is a neces-
sary step in attaining this goal.
Education has been defined as
a bulwark against the acids of
fashion and communism. Neither
of those totalitarian forms of gov
eminent can survive examina-
ton by educated men and wo-
men-men and women free to
search for truth and inbued with
the principles of liberty set forth
in the preamble to the Constitu
ton of the United States the
greatest document of Govern
ment, in my opinion, that has
ever been written by the hand
of man. That Constitution gives
US the ability to live together in
peace. 1t gives us the ability to
see that justice comes to every
man, be he big or be he small,
be he rich or be he poor.
If this great institution will
continue to turn out leaders, am
ont at all afraid of what the
next generation in the world will
bring forth.
We are working for peace. We
want peace. We pray for peace
all the time in the world. And to
attain that peace, we must all
learn how to live together peace
ably, and do to our neighbors as
we would have our neighbors do