Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-05-26

The peoples of the world can
not hear what we say because
what we do keeps DINING In their
ears.
Ralph Waldo Emerson had the
insight Of = great philosopher
when he reminded US that our
words seem empty but our actions
seem to fill the atmosphere.
The preservation and extension
Of human rights Ii the paramount
issue Of our generation. Basic
civil rights IL the core Of our
struggle against Communist total
itartanism.
There has been q great deal of
discussion on the floor of the
Senate about Communism. Our
antagonism TO communism, our
hatred Of the Communist philoso-
ply Is based upon the fact that
communism denies basic civil
rights. denies mans relationship
TO his God, denies the equality of
men. So we hear all kinds of
speeches in the Senate about what
we should do about the Commu-
nists. when the one thing we could
do to strike q real blow for free
dom as a real blow against total
itarianism Ia to pass Senate bill
1928. which would open up the
benefits Of opportunity to all peo-
pie. regardless Of their race, color.
national origin, or religion. The
issue Of civil rights penetrates our
foreign policy and submit that
adulterates our domestic policy.
By denying basic civil rights to
American people because of their
color or race or religion or ma
tional origin, we are denying the
basic principles of human equal
ity on which the foundations of
American democracy rest.
This year Of 1850 Ii a rather
memorable and historic year, for
II was fourscore and seven years
ago, on January /. 1853, that q
noble American and a beloved
President, issued for his day and
for the pages of world history the
Proclamation. Four
score and seven years ago, on No
vember 10, 1888, Abraham Lin
coin, standing bareheaded at
Gettysburg. rededicated our Ma
ton Ito the proposition that all
men are created equal"
We in the Congress Of the Unit
ed States today, then, have the OPP
portunity and the privilege to say
to the world that the great mes
sage Of human equality proclaim
ed to the world by Thomas JEFF
ferson and Abraham Lincoln and
Franklin Roosevelt stin remains
the true beacon light which fash
ions and molds American life and
American hopes and aspirations.
Americans believe in the God
like principles Of the Declaration
of independence that all men are
created equal. Americans believe
in q society based on human dig
nifty and equal opportunity. That
Is the expressed purpose of Senate
bill l72s, namely. to create a body
Of public law that will guarantee
the realization and the protection
of human dignity and equal oppor-
tunity.
Let us not allow q minority here
in America, though II be strong
here In the Senate Of the United
States. TO becloud the true nature
Of the deep convictions OF the
American people.
Let us not forget that Q major
ity Of the American people have
expressed their support for the
legislation which we now propose
TO have the Senate Of the United
states consider. They have EXPIRES
sed their support through their
churches. of all denominations, as
the report Of the committee Of the
House and the report Of the MEM
bers Of the Senate Committee re-
veal; through their labor Organixa-
tons. through their civic and COM
munity councils. and through the
growing number Of municipal and
state FEPC ordinances.
Today. $4,000. 900 Americans, or
more than one-third of the
country's population, live in COM
munities governed by State and
municipal FEPC laws.
Permit me to digress for q
moment to cite the importance Of
this legislation for communities
not now covered by FEPC laws.
Many times during these debates
I have heard our friends from the
South say, Why pick On the
SOUTH" Frankly. they have said
than in many instances southern
communities are more humane and
more fair In their treatment Of
minority groups than are northern
communities. I am not here TO dis
pute that assertion I simply say
that because Of the migration oi
people. and particularly at this
stage. the migration Of Negro
American citizens into the north
srn cities. Il 10 Of paramount i'm
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