Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-23
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
This Is America
In spite of constant misrep.
BY DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

In spite OF constant misrep-
resentation, vilification and
distortion of America by the
Kremlin masters 'of deceit,
this Western bulwark of free
dom. with all her faults and
failings, is still humanity's
last, best hope. This very
month the Soviets asked the
world to observe millions and
millions of her inhabitants
voting in a rubber-stamp
slave election. OF course the
regime selected Candidates"
were declared elected by an
almost unanimous vote. With
tongue in cheek, Western re-
porterS announced to the
world, This is Russia" Yes,
that is Russia where, by
purges. propaganda, terror
and intimidation human be-
ings are rendered utterly
plastic by being stripped Of
their dignity. to say nothing
Of their rights, and turned
into anonymous particles
with no will and no judg-
ment of their own.
With pride and gratitude
shall we turn to another pic
ture not doctored with the
colors of fiction? The title
of this picture which those
who fear its truth go to such
pains to keep from the gaze
of their enslaved subjects is,
This is American land
where the people rule and
breathe free. without strut
or snobbery. The picture in
spires a grateful TIE Deum
uttered in deep humility
This is my heritage. / am
an American"
After horrible years bound
by the letters Of a police
state at last a recent refugee
found himself in this land Of
hope and glory. After due
process he was given his first
papers Of citizenship. On thai
day he entered the nearest
church and, in a tumult Of
joy, knelt to thank God
author of liberty, for America
beacon light for the whole
world and for the ineStimablt
boon of being an American
Literally through tears of joy
he declared that he had dis.
covered here, not just foul
freedoms but four hundred
At the altar Of this sanctuary
a new American was gazinl
reverently at the mosaic il
which millions of little patri.
otto stones blend in the tota
splendor of This is America.
What is it one perceivei
who really sees America? 1
is a thing not of the eartl
but of the heart. 1t is a wa,
of thinking and a way O.
acting. 1t is not territof.
bound by oceans, rivers o.
degrees Of latitude, but b.
principles, ideas. attitude
and values more precious
than life itself. America
sweet land of liberty. is an un'
barred thoroughfare for free
dom-a nation not of the cleo
but of the elected. 1t is {
stairway of opportunity. opeI
from the first step to the top
1t is a classics society who's
ariStocracy is based not OF
pedestals but on personality
not on birth but on worth
not on who you are but OF
what you are. This is Americs
as constant epics of achieve
ment attest.
America is the Pilgrim
Fathers, the public schools
the temples of religion. anC
its legislative halls. 1t il
Washington and Jefferson ant
Lincoln. 1t is Teddy Roose'
welt and Woodrow Wilson anC
FDR. 1t is Philips Brook
and Cardinal Gibbons anC
jacob Refs. 1t is a vast melt
ing pot in which is being pro
duced a richer and NOR
varied culture than the work.
has yet known.
Years before he came Il
the White House to face thu
awful task of saving TIL
Union, Abraham Lincoln, OF
a visit to New York City, wa
asked to speak to 3 Sunda.
School class in an industrial
institution. The children whit
gathered that Sunday morn
ing to listen to words from
the tall, gaunt Midwesteri
L