The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1956-02-18
MENACE OF RACE
DISSEMINATION


In the field of statutory en-
actments, I am happy that
the Commonwealth of Mas
sachusetts, byt its Commission
Against Discrimination, has
exhibited inspiring leadership
to her sister states. l think
We should congratulate the
Massachusetts, Commission on
its magnificent work, with the
prayerful hope that complac-
ency will never dim its lead
ership.
In the field of federal legis-
lation, however, personally
cannot be happy. Responsible
political leaders and the cam
paign platforms of both par
ties, have repeatedly promised
federal legislation in the area
of civil liberties. Patriotic
leaders from all walks of life
have repeatedly and consist
emily advocated congressional
action in the field of civil lib
critics. In 1947, President Harry
Humans Committee On Civil
Rights, after holding extern
Sive hearings, submitted a
magnificent report recon-
mending legislation which
would eliminate discrimina-
ton among citizens of the
United States on the basis of
race, creed, color, or national
origin. Of recent years, over
one hundred bills have been
submitted for the same pur-
pose but to date, despite po-
lftical platforms, despite the
promises of political leaders,
and despite the pleas of pa
triotic leaders in private life.
nothing has been done by
Congress.
I realize that the job is not
easy. The Federal Security
program is unsatisfactory and
needs serious Improvement
without jeprodizing either Sc
curity or liberty. In this diff
ficult task there will not be
much help from the crack
pots of the Right or the screw
balls of the Left, or from the
hySteria which befogs the is
sue from both extremes.
We are still waiting and
hoping for the long promised
revision of the McCarran I'M
migration Act which SO
shamefully discriminates ag-
ainSt the peoples Of some
countries. If and when the
Congress corrects this ineouitv
| shall -ren1eber with less en-
barraSSment the inscription ON
the base of the Statue of Lib
erty in New York harbor. That
statue facing across the wa
tiers of the Atlantic to the
countries OF Europe has in
scribed on its base the fol-
lowing:
"G1Ue me your tired, your poor
Your hnddled masses yearnirao
to breathe free,
The Uretched refuse of vour
teemiag shore,
Send these, the homeless.
tempeSt-toSSed to me.
I hit my lamp beside the
golden door"
But even with the best of
judicial Interpretation and
the best of statutory enact
ments, the fullness and mag
nlficence of the American i'd
cal Of liberty will never pre-
vail among us unless and I'M
VI we private citizens accept
It with conviction and prac-
tice 1t with sincerity in our
own personal and private lives.
A symptom of that conyic-
ton of that practice would.
for instance, be the disap-
pearance of words like mig
GER and like" and omicSp
"heinie" and ''frogp and
and "wop" and "sheeny" and
"spick" and "greaser" and the
rest of the contemplate Ian
guage of racial bigotry. In the
area OF our national security
Sidney ook has this to saw:
I'm the long run, ho,oeU-
er, neither laos nor Sc
ctvtty agencies, as neces-
Sary as they are, can con-
stttute a lasting defense
OF democratic Institutions
II the t0fH to freedom is
mot cfY1aa1 ~ l..