Evening star., 1954-10-22
President Calls Him
True Liberal While a
Real Conservative
sy the A..eeis,sd Press

NEW YORK. Oct. 22.-Fol-
lo,oing is the tert OF the speech
By President Eisenhower at
the Alfred E. Smith memorial
dinner here last night:
Your eminence. Gov. Dewey,
Mayor Wagner-My fellow Amer
leans.
May I, first, pay my deep re-
spects to a lady whose early
life was devoted to and inter-
twined with that OF the man
whose memory we are to honor.
His confident, his counsellor, an
admired citizen In her own
right, q worthy daughter of a
noble parent-Emily Smith War
ner.
On such an evening as this.
before such gathering as this,
our attention seems inescapably
directed to three subjects, re-
lated in our thinking. They are:
First-The man whose memory
we honor - Alfred Emanuel
Smith.
Second - The practice Of
charitable giving.
Third-The Government and
the health of its people.
None in our generation more
warmly sympathized with the
needs, the hopes, the aspirations
of humanity than did Gov.
Smith; none more earnestly used
government as an instrument for
their satisfaction.
Yet none in our generation
more acutely recognized the
menace of bankrupting waste
inherent in a centralized bu-
reaucracy; none more firmly be-
lieved in self dependence and
initiative; and none more firmly
believed that thrift and solvency
are hallmarks Of good govern
ment.
Liberal Conservative.
In all that concerned human
beings, he was a true liberal;
In all that concerned the econ
omy within which they lived, he
was a genuine conservative. In
his daily tasks. he was a man
of charitable heart: a patriot
who loved America and its peo-
pie. His life made manifest the
challenges and opportunities. the
responsibilities and rewards
which America confers on those
who serve their country and their
fellow men.
His life did not escape the ex-
perience of defeat, but he ac-
cepted his defeats cheerfully. for
he knew that if he were right.
time would vindicate him and
truth would prevail.
He faced his challenges un-
afraid, for he was armed in hon
esty of purpose and integrity OF
soul.
He seized his opportunities
eagerly, for he was an alert
steward of God-given talents.
He bore his responsibilities
gerenely, for he sought the coun-
sci of the wise and the help OF
the Almighty.
He accepted his rewards
modestly, for he felt those higher
inner satisfactions known only
to those who dedicate them
selves to service to others.
Through a long life, he served
his city, his State, his country,
to the limits of a great capacity.
In every task. he was impelled by
a fiery faith in the decency and
dignity of men and in the pur-
poses of America. So impelled,
he labored well. His life was a
crusade against inequities rooted
in such spurious criteria as an
cestry and income.
Name Enshrined.
Therefore, the name. Alfred E.
Smith, is enshrined in history.
So long as the Republic endures,
he will not be forgotten.
But, beyond that, AL Smith,
the man, the Happy Warrior,
the American of great mind and
great soul, lives in the hearts
Of people.
Monuments of timber and
stone and metal have recorded
human accomplishment through
the years. In the history Of
America, there are many who
have earned such distinction.
To only a few, however, in all
the years of the Republic has
there been paid the highest Of
all awards: A public resolve that
the causes which they espoused
shall not be permitted to die
with them: that others, inspired
by their memory, shall carry on
the work to which those few
dedicated themselves.
Our assembly this evening Is
an expression of public de-
termination.
In our distant and diverse ORR
gins, in our present vocations and
affiliations and interests, we are
the infinite variety of American
life. The roll call Of this dinner
is a roster of the races and re-
ligious creeds, the political par
ties, the economic enterprises, the
cultural movements that consti-
tute the Republic. But the COM
mon bond of dedication to values
that AL Smith upheld converts
our multitudinous variety into a
purposeful unity, a reflection of
our national unity that is today
q towering beacon of hope to
torn and divided mankind.
Our gathering to honor this
man. to pay our respect to the
causes for which he labored
throughout his life, symbolizes
our unity. We honor him be-
cause through his career he gave
himself unsparingly to the Amer
ican dream. II
The American Dream.
Since the beginning OF. time,
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