Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-25

Gov. Stanley; Members of the
Governors Conference; My fell
low Citizens:
First-my sincere thanks to
each member of this distinguish
ed body for your cordial invita-
ton to join you, in this spot so
significant to every American.
No person devoted to our
countrywide treasures human
liberty-who values industry and
courage and indomitable will
can but welcome q pilgrimage to
this region. the birthplace of
our Nation.
Here, in Williamsburg. three
centuries ago-in nearby James,
town. a half-century earlier
lived men and women who era
died this mighty Republic. De-
vout in faith, their spirit strong,
their deeds heroic. they perma-
nently shaped our destiny. AS
long as this Republic endures,
their wisdom and example will
mold and inspire our people.
So in this historic place. as
you and I contemplate our re-
spective responsibilities of lead
ership, it is but fitting that we
should soberiy re-examine the
changing governmental structure
OF this Nation, here definitely
conceived and partially designed
so long ago.
Such an examination is timely
even urgent. For ! have felt
as surely you have-that too
often we have seen tendencies
develop that transgress our most
cherished principles of govern
ment. and tend to undermine the
structure SO painstakingly built
by those who preceded us.
or those principles I refer
especially to one drawn from the
colonists' bitter struggle against
tyranny and from mans tragic
experiences throughout the ages.
Watch Against Power
That principle is this: those
who would be. and would stay,
free must stand eternal watch
against excessive concentration
Of power in government.
In faithful application Of that
principle. governmental power in
our newborn Nation was diffused
= counterbalanced, checke d.
hedged about and restrained-to
preclude even the possibility Of
its abuse. Ever since. that prin-
ciple and those precautions have
been. in our system, the anchor
Of freedom.
Over the years, due in part to
our decentralized system, we
have come to recognize that most
problems can be approached in
many reasonable ways. Our Con-
stitutional checks and balances,
our 48 State governments our
multiplicity Of county and mu-
nicipal governing bodies, our
emphasis upon individual initia-
tive and community RESPONSE
bility. encourage unlimited ex-
Fermentation in the solving Of
Americas problems. Through
this diversified approach. the
effect of errors is restrained.
calamitous mistakes are avoided.
the general good is more surely
determined, and the self-govern-
ing genius of our people is per-
petually renewed.
Being long accustomed to de-
centralized authority, We are all
too inclined to accept it as a
convenient, even ordinary, fact
of life, to expect it as our right.
and to presume that it will al
ways endure. But in other lands
over the centuries millions, help
less before concentrated power.
have been born. have lived and
have died in slavery. or have
lost their lives and their liberty
to despots.
High Power and Red Satellites
Today, against the dark back
ground of Eastern Europe, we
see spotlighted once again the
results Of extreme and Dictator
ial concentration Of power.
There mans rightful aspira-
lions are cruelty repressed by
despotism more far-reaching than
the world has ever before known.
There power is free. the people
in chains. BY no means do I i'm
ply that the tragic plight Of those
once free people bears even faint
relationship to the future Of this
Nation. But by viewing that I'M
easy scene even briefly. we are
forcibly reminded Of two great
truths. The first Of these truths
is that a nation cannot be en-
shaved by diffused power but
only by strong centralized gov
eminent. The second truth is
that in spite Of repression and
ceaseless indoctrination, the de-
termination Of men and women
to resist tyrannical control will
not die; they will never accept
supinely the lot Of the enslaved.
In the Soviet machine, politi-
cal power is exercised through
unbridled force. All peoples Of all
areas where the Kremlin holds
sway must instantly obey a Mos
COW decree, no matter how it
violates their traditions, no
matter how inapplicable it may
be to local concerns.
Yet the Kremlin, itself, COM
ing to recognize some Of the de-
ffciencies Of extreme centraliza-
ton, has just embarked upon a
drastic reorganization OF its
massive bureaucracy. Soviet rul-
ers have felt compelled to allow
some small part Of government
to gravitate closer to the people.
On the Soviet periphery as
well, Capitalization has revealed
its inherent weaknesses. There
even the Soviets are learning the
age-old truth that those who
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