Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-24

Plainly, the objective now must
be to see that such a war does
not occur at all.
And so the third imperative of
peace is this: Without for a mo-
ment relaxing our internal and
collective defenses. we must
actively try to bridge the great
chasm that separates us from
the peoples under Communist
rule. In those regions are mil
lions of individual human beings
who have been our friends, and
who themselves have sincerely
wanted peace and freedom,
throughout so much of our mu-
tual history.
For years the Iron Curtain was
impenetrable. Our people were
unable to talk to these individ-
uals behind the curtain, or travel
among them, or share their arts
or sports, or invite them to see
what life is like in a free democ-
racy. or get acquainted in any
way. What future was there in
such a course. except greater
misunderstanding and an ever
deepening division in the world?
Mistrust based on folse-
hoods will give way to
understanding based on
truth"
Of course. good will from our
side can do little to reach these
peoples unless there is some new
spirit of Cancellation on the part
of the Governments controlling
them. Now, at last, there appear
to be signs that some small de-
gree of friendly intercourse may
be permitted. We are beginning
to be able-cautiously and with
our eyes open-to encourage
some interchange of ideas. books.
magazines. students, tourists,
artists. radio programs, technical
experts, religious leaders and
government officials. The hope
is that, little by little, mistrust
based on falsehoodS will give way
to international understanding
based on truth.
As we bring this about, how
ever gradually. it will not seem
futile for young people to dream
of a brave and shining new
world, or for older people to feel
that they can in fact bequeath
to their children a better in
heritance than that which was
their own. Science and tech
nology, labor-saving methods,
management, labor organization,
education, medicine-and not
least, politics and the art Of
government all these have
brought within our grasp a world
in which backbreaking toll and
long hours will not be necessary.
Travel all over the world, to
learn to know our brothers
abroad, will be fast and cheap.
The fear and pain of Gripping
disease will be greatly reduced.
The material things that make
life interesting and pleasant can
be available to everyone. Leisure,
together with educational and
recreational facilities, will be
abundant. so that all can develop
the life of the spirit, of reflection,
or religion, of the arts, of the
full realization of the good
things of the world. And political
wisdom will ensure justice and
harmony.
"'You oin't seen nothing yet. "
This picture of the future
brings to mind a little story.
A Government worker, when
he first arrived in Washington
in 1858, was passing the National
Archives building in a taxi, where
he saw this motto carved on one
of it's pedestals: What is Past
is Prologue" He had heard the
Washington cab drivers were
noted for knowing all the Wash
ington answers. so he asked the
driver about the motto. "Oh,
that" said the driver. That's
just bureaucrat talk. What it
really means is-"You amt seen
nothing yet"
The kind of era I have de-
scribed is possible. But it will
not be obtained by revolution.
1t will not be attained by the
sordid politics of pitting group
against group. 1t will be brough
about by the ambitions and judy
ments and inspirations and dar-
ing Of 1853 million free Americans
working together and with
friends abroad toward a common
ideal in a peaceful world.
Lincoln, speaking to the Re-
publican State Convention in
1858, began with the biblical
quotation: "A house divided
against itself cannot stand"
Today the world is a house
divided.
But-as is sometimes forgot
ten--Lincoln followed this quo
tation with a note of hope for
his troubled country:
Il do not expect the house to
fall--but l do expect it will cease
to be divided.
A century later. we. too, must
have the vision, the fighting
spirit. and the deep religious
faith in our Creators destiny
for us. to sound a similar note
Of promise for our divided world /;
that out Of our time there can,
with incessant work and with
Gods help. emerge a new era
Of good life. good will and good
hope for all men.
49, A..a.N4sa,. ,...s "a kAl.