Evening star., 1951-07-05
Text of Truman Independence Day Talk

ss1S
mating oppression and injustice and
in creating security and opportuni-
ties for all. am proud OF our
record in doing these things.
Today, more than ever before, it
is important that we continue to
make progress in expanding our
freedoms and eimproving the op-
portunities Of our citizens. To do SO
is to strengthen the hopes and de-
termination Of free men everywhere
Face Long Period of Tension.
Moreover, it is doubly important
today that we set an example OF
sober and wise and consistent self
government. We face a long period
of world tension, and great inter-
national danger. We have the hard
task Of increasing production and
controlling imitation in order to sup
port the strong armed forces we
must have for years to come.
One Of our most difficult tasks, be-
cause it is new to our people, is
that Of organizing civil defense
Because we have been spared the
rough schooling which the people oil
Europe have had, too many Ameri.
cans are still skeptical and tardy.
All these tasks challenge the abil-
ity of free people to govern them
selves with both reason and resolu-
tion. There are people who say
our democratic form Of government
cannot do these things. They say
we cannot stick to q hard, tough
policy of self-denial and self Icon
troll long enough to win the strug-
gle. They say we are no match fol
the steady, ruthless way the Soviet
rulers seek their goals.
These people, and they are not all
Communists by any means, say that
we can't take it, over the long haul
They say We will either lose oul
heads and rush into a world war, OF
that we will relax and give up oul
efforts to maintain peace. They say
that the demagogues and the spe.
cial interests will tear us apart from
within. These people do not believe
that free men and self-government
can survive in the struggle against
Communist dictatorship.
I think these prophets of doom
are wrong. I think the whole his,
tory OF our country proves they ar,
wrong. I Believe the last few
months show that We will not b,
stampeded into war, or broken VI
by distrust and fear.
Test Of Self Control.
But we are going through a periot
that will test to the utmost oul
self f-control, our patriotism, ant
our faith in our institutions. TIL,
very idea of self-government i
being put to the test in the worlt
today as 1t has never been testet
before.
II we do not succeed in this coun
try--if we do not succeed In build
ing up our Armed Forces, in con
trolling imitation, and in strength
ening our friends and Allies-thel
the cause OF self-government, tn
cause Of human freedom, is lost
II we with all that we have In ou
favor do not succeed, no other fre
government can survive-anywher
in the world-and the whole grea
experiment that began In 1776 vii
be over and done with.
I believe we will succeed.
The principles of the Declaration
Of independence are the right prin
ciples. They are sound enough t,
guide us through this crisis as the
have guided us through the crise
Of the past. Freedom can overcom
tyranny in the goth century a
surely as it overcame the tyrant
Of the 18th century.
There Is q text inscribed on tn
Liberty Bell, the bell that rang ou
ITS years ago to announce the sign
ing Of the Declaration of Independ
ence. When the Pennsylvania Pro
vincial Assembly ordered that bel
for the State House in Philadelphis
they directed that 1t should bea
certain words, "well-shaped in larg
letters" You remember what thos
words were: Proclaim Libert
throughout all the land unto a
the inhabitants thereof"
We should write these word
again today. We should write ther
in everything we do in this countr
-"well-shaped in large letters
by every deed and act, so that tn
whole world can read them. w
have written them in the deeds @
our soldiers in Korea-for the me-
of Asia and all the world to SET
Let us write them in all that W
do, at home and abroad, to the en-
that men everywhere may rea
them and take hope and courag
for the victory Of freedom.