Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1957-02-15

cleanse myself II you aggregate
me because I am Ignorant. I can
become educated. But II you dis
eliminate against me because OF
my color. I can do nothing. God
gave mo my color. I have no pos
slbls protection against race pre-
JUDGE but TO take refuge In cyni-
ciam. bitterness, hatred and des-
pair, am a Negro-American. All
my life | have wanted 10 be an
American.
Mr.. President. this In why pre-
JUDGE and discrimination cost too
much for democracy TO afford.
This II also. Mr. President. why
history has a claim on the s0th
Congress- Human rights 10 u con-
cspt whose time has come. II In n
concept with the highest priority
on the worlds agenda. and II de-
serves a priority no leas high on
the agends OF the United States
Congress.
We know that our Constitu-
ton guarantees full equality OF
rights and opportunities 10 Ameri-
can of every race, color. religion
and national origin. We know
that proposed legislation to assure
To every American his constitu.
tionai rights has been introduced
In Congress after Congress, only
TO die In committee. on the cal
endar, or by the veto OF the I'LL.
buster.
am convinced. however. that
tho strong upaurEe OF liberal
strength evidenced last week In
the rules fight proves that drama
tic changes are on the horizon. We
are coming 10 realize that a Con
greaa which continues 10 be unre.
sponsive To the greatest moral de-
HAetfH W Nhf htHsi " MI INV
Hponsible Congress. We are com
ing To realize that to the degree
that procrastination. tomporizing,
delays and obstruction continue.
We are convcting ourselves OF by
pocriay, We are coming to realize
that the enemies OF society are not
those who promote the processes
OF freedom. but those who try TO
block them.
Mr. President, the danger TO any
civilization or any living thing
whatever lies not In progress but
In stagnation; ont In growth but
In decay; not In change but In the
lack change.
The Presiding officer; The time
OF the Senator has expired.
Mr. Humphrey; Mr., President. I
wonder whether my colleagues will
bear with me for an additional one
or two minutes. No that I may
complete my statement
The Presiding offices, The Sen.
ator from Minnesota requests adj
ditional time, Ii there objection
The chair hears none. and the
Senator may proceed.
Mr. Humphrey Mr.. President
the peril Ii that under the pressure
of locally entrenched and satisfied
majorities, we shah stone the pho
phrts once too often. The danger
Is that We shall cling TO the shell
of social and economic institutions
too long after they have been out
grown that we shall adhere 20
the husk and form OF ideas too
long after they are dead
n IL for this reason. Mr. Prcsi.
dent, that I am liberal without
apology, u liberal without mis-
givtngs. = liberal without regret
Insofar as l am sorry for anything
u ~ not because I am q liberal
but u Ia because I am not more
liberal than I arm,
A. liberal. I am confident that
we shall not progress too fast
The overwhelming danger IL tina,
we shsll not be able to progress
fast enough. There Is plenty OF
conversation in the world to al
lust the balance. " that IL needed
The Belgian author, Maurice
MaeterHnck. once made an obser.
walton that IL profoundly true A.
every croasway on the road that
leads to the future, each proGres,
sivc spirit IL opposed by thous'
and men appointed TO guard IN"
pas, The least that the most timi'
" uS can DO IL not TO add 20 the
immense desdwrlxh, that nature
dFngS honk
In matters like these, Mr. Presi
dent, the Legislative process, In
general and the Congress of the
United states, in particular, has =
special obligation not 10 add any
longer 90 the lightweight u re
trcnchmrnt. ohstinacy and mae
ton Now. more than ever before
spirits arr ready and the time Is
right for progress Mr. President
in the same sense that history has
claim on the SSth Congress.
am convinced that the Sa,h Con,
grrss may have claim on his,
tory We have an eNccllent chance
u W. win ssIsr Il. 60 pass the flrst