Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-22

ing the conventions of the
Republican party. The last two
times I have indicated I was
making my farewell appearance
have both a precedent and a
request for this appearance
Some Of you may recollect that
the great singer of yesteryear
Madame Adelina Patti, by re-
quest came to America six times
to make farewell appearances
But do not get too alarmed over
the possibility of three more
from me. The excuse for this
third such appearance of mine is
the special request of President
Eisenhower and your chairman
No greater compliment could be
paid to any Republican.
The Power of Ideas
In each of my former ad-
dresses to the conventions ! have
stressed our responsibility to
maintain the safeguards of free
men. That still remains America s
most vital issue.
Human history. with its forms
of governments, its revolutions
its wars, and. in fact, the rise
and fall of nations, could be
written in terms of the rise and
fall of ideas implanted in the
minds of men.
The Most Dynamic Idea
In the whole world of ideas
the most beneficent and dy-
manic force since the dawn of
history has been mans quest
and vigil for freedom. The
ancient Greeks and Romans did
much to establish this concept.
But it flickered out. A spark
again arose in England begin
ming with Runnymede and its
Magma Charta.
But the real dawn of freedom
came when. after the Middle
Ages. our founding fathers re-
covered the tablets of the rights
Of free men. They added to their
text of those ancient tablets
Their genius provided safeguards
for their preservation. Our fore
fathers established the principles
of freedom so firmly that despite
occasional standings, this re-
public has had a longer life, and
a prosperity for its people unT
matched by any other nation in
history.
That turning of the pages of
history was the fulfillment of
Gods purpose that the mind,
spirit and enterprise of men
should be free. 1t gave courage
and hope not alone to our peo-
pie. 1t lighted an Illuminating
flame to guide all the waiting and
anxious men and women of the
earth.
Not so many decades ago these
dynamic ideas of free men were
on the march over most of the
entire world. Indeed, it seemed
as If the golden age of man was
at the threshold.
Why do now recite all these
facts which are so well known
to every school boy and girl?
The Destructive Ideas
Because in our generation we
have seen mankind's hope of
freedom threatened and even
overwhelmed by the revival of
old ideas and the spread of a host
of new ideas dangerous to free
men.
have no more need to do
more than mention these menac-
ing ideas to remind you of their
consequences to free men, among
them are the ideas of commu-
niSm, fascism, atheism, agrees
sive nationalism, Capitalization
Of government away from mems
control, and that yelled sister
Of communism-legalistic social
ism.
Today the greatest issue in
America and all mankind is the
entertainments of government to
master our lives.
have often spoken on these
subjects. 1t is not necessary that
] repeat my views upon them
here. You know where stand.
But I list these malign ideas,
now spreading in mems minds,
for a serious purpose. 1t is to
remind this convention of its
historic responsibility to keep
alive the principles and safe
guards of freedom in the face
Of alien ideas.
For communism is human
slavery. Nor can we have any
truck with the other doctrines
Of Karl Marx-whether social
ism, economic materialism, or
atheism.
Our social and economic sys-
tenn is based upon free enterprise
regulated to prevent monopoly
and unfair competition. The
state should only undertake
business or public improvement
enterprises where they are
greater than the people can
undertake for themselves.
Ours is a system which holds
that human values transcend all
others and that there is a public
responsibility to the sick, the
veterans. the unemployed. to the
aged and to dependent children.
Great Issue Of Our Time
President Eisenhower and his
colleagues have done an immense
service To our country in re-
ducing international tension.
They have stemmed the malign
forces which have beset us from
within and without. They have
increased the prosperity of our
people.
Above all else. President
Eisenhower and his colleagues
have sustained two vital forces
IN the minds of free men. They
are integrity and RELIGIOUS faith.