Evening star., 1956-08-18

sensus Of the strongly held con.
Iyictions Of strong men; it is {
lsignpost toward that new Amer.
lea. 1t speaks of the issues O.
our time with passion for justice
with reverence for our history
and character, with a long view
lof the Ameican future. and with
la sober. fervent dedication tt
the goal Of peace on earth.
Nor has it. evaded the current
problems in the relations be.
tween the races who comprise
America. problems which have
so often tormented our nationa
life. OF course there is disagree.
ment in the Democratic Party
on desegregation. It could MOI
be otherwise in the only party
that must speak responsibly
and responsively in both thu
North and the South. II all oI
US are not wholly satisfied with
with what we have said on thi.
explosive subject it is because
we have spoken the only way q
truly national party can-by the
understanding accommodation oi
conflicting views.
But in so doing, in substitut.
ing realism and persuasion fol
the extremes of force or nulli-
fication. our party has preserved
its effectiveness, it has avoided
a sectional crisis. and it has con-
tributed to our national unity
as only a national party could
AS President. it would be my
purpose to press on in accord
ance with our platform ! toward
the fuller freedom for all our
citizens which is at once our
party's pledge and the old Amer
ican promise.
Il do not propose to make
capital Of the Presidents ill.,
ness
I do not propose to make po-
litical capital out of the Presi-
dents illness. His ability to per-
sonally fulfill the demands of his
exacting Office is a matter be-
tween him and the American
people. So far as / am concerned
that is where the matter rests
AS We all do, ] wish deeply foi
the Presidents health and well
being.
But If the condition of Presi-
dent Eisenhower is not an issue
as far as I am concerned, the
condition and the conduct OF
the Presidents office and of the
Eisenhower administration /:
very much an issue.
The men who run the Eisen-
hover administration evidently
believe that the minds of Ameri.
cans can be manipulated by
shows. slogans and the arts Of
advertising. And that conviction
will, ] dare say. be backed up by
the greatest torrent of money
ever poured out to influence ar
American election-poured oul
by men who fear nothing 81
much as change and who wan
everything to stay as it is--only
more so.
This idea that you can mer.
chandise candidates for high of.
nee, like breakfast cereal-tha
you can gather votes like bo,
tops-is, ! think, the ultimat,
indignity of the democratic,
process. And we Democrats mus
also face the fact that no ad,
ministration ever before enjoyet
such an uncritical and enthusi
astic support from so much O
the press as this one.
r.. To whot purpose . ho.
the Presidents popularity beef
put?"
But let us ask the people O
our country to what great pur
pose for the Republic has tn,
Presidents popularity and thi
unrivalled opportunity for lead
ership been put? Has the Eisen,
hover administration used thi
opportunity to elevate US? tt
enlighten US? To inspire us
Did 1t. in q time Of headlonR
world wide, revolutionary change
prepare US for stern decision
and great risks? Did 1t, in short
give men and women a glimps,
of the nobility and vision with
out which peoples and nation
perish?
Or did 1t just reassure us tina
all is well. everything is al
right. that everyone is prosper
Gus and safe. that no great deci
sions are required Of US. an,
that the presidency Of the Unite,
States has somehow become al
easy job?
! will have to confess tha
the Republican administration
has performed a minor miracl
--after 20 years Of incessan
damnation Of the New Deal
they not only haven't repeale,
it. but they have swallowed Il
or most Of it. and it looks a
though they could keep Il dow
at least until after the election
\ I suppose We should be thank
lful that they have caught u