Evening star., 1954-01-15
Warren Says Liberty
Is More Contagious
Than Communism
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

by the Assoeioisd Press
NEW YORK, Jan. l5.-Chief
Justice Earl Warren says lib
erty, not communism, is ''the
most contagious force in the
world" and ultimately will pene-
trate the Iron Curtain.
Chief Justice Warren spoke last
night at Columbia University
bicentennial dinner. The adj
dress was his first major speech
since he was named to head the
Supreme Court last fall.
Referring to Columbia's an
niversary theme. Mans right
to knowledge and the free use
thereof" Chief Justice Warren
said it was in this concept that
1--WE flnd our greatest possibility
for an ultimately free world"
Strength in Diversity. (
Our Nations strength, he went
on, "is in our diversity" and
'our power is in freedom of
thought and research" He
added:
mo Communist government,
no Fascist government, no gov
ernment that is totalitarian
could tolerate that approach to
the problems of life. Such
governments cannot tolerate dis
senting views. All must bow to
one creed, one party, one
faith. ..
Liberty, not communism, is
the most contagious force in the
world. 1t will permeate the Iron
Curtain. It will eventually abide
everywhere. For no people 'of
any race will long remain
slaves"
Must Safeguard Rights.
The right of dissent and free
inquiry, Chief Justice Warren
said. must be safeguarded If
America sis not to store up the
seds Of its. own destruction.
"The more turbulent the
times, the more essential the
freedom Of inquiry. We are now
living in such times.
when men are free to ex-
plore all avenues of thought, no
matter what prejudices may be
aroused, there is a healthy
climate in the Nation. Our
universities and our colleges are.
therefore, even more precious to
us now than in normal times"
The Chief Justice said such
institutions as Columbia have
always been key defenders of
"the processes of free discussion
and free inquiry"
Even More Precious Now.
He termed such processes
especially vital under today's
conditions.
Our universities and our COL
leges are, therefore. even more
precious to us now than in nor
NAL times" the Chief Justice
continued.
ITO preserve the true spirit of
these institutions we must rec
ogniZe that free investigation
and faithful experiment are es-
sential if society is not to be-
come stagnant or is not to store
up the seeds of its own destruc-
ton"
Chief Justice Warren said that
In today's chaotic world" even
"the most fundamental values
are being questioned" and 'tthe
propaganda Of fierce ideologies
arouse the counter toxins Of
fear, hatred and, at times. even
imitation"
Wants Certainty of Direction.
He did not elaborate on where
such counter toxins had
cropped UP, but he said in such
an atmosphere it is particularly
important ito make more certain
the direction in which we are
headed"
Chief Justice Warren noted
that Columbia had contributed |
three former Chief Justices to
the Supreme Court, John Jay,
Charles Evan Hughes and Har-
Ian Fiske Stone. He lauded |
these men for helping establish |
law that secures our freedom"
He said:
They realized: that orderly |
change was as important as sta
bility; that the law could not be |
a living thing serving the needs
Of every oncoming generation If |
1t should always be anchored to |
the status quo and to precon-
ceptions of the past.
Not Always on Popular Side.
"And. they were not always on
the popular side. That is often
the case where judges and pub
lie officials protect freedom of
speech, of the press and of as
Eembly as they did"
Chief Justice Warren paid
tribute to "thoSe generations of
worthy and hardy souls who, as
scholars and teachers through
out the free world, have hitched
civilization to the stars"
They, he said, have perhaps
more than any other group,
been responsible for the leaven-
ing influences in society and for
the advances made in the tor
tuous climb to the good life by
people everywhere"