The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1962-12-06

applicants on the same basis
as any other applicants.
| think events since Sept.
Is, the date of the Interposi-
ton Proclamation issued by
the governor, have shown be-
yond any conceivable dispute
what little basis there was for
that defense.
So the courts orders fol-
lowed eighteen months of Ii
tigation in which there was
never any real issue. In the
course of it, the University
and the state had their day
IN court many times at all
three levels of the federal
court system.
Once the Supreme Court
had ruled, the duty of every
American citizen to see that
the courts orders were fol-
lowed became unquestion-
able. The Department of Jus
tice entered the case only be-
cause Mississippi officials in
dlcated they would interfere
with the courts orders. The
United States has the respon-
sibility to see that the orders
of the federal courts are
obeyed and that the integrity
of the courts is upheld.
Respect for the law and
obedience to the law are the
basis of our free society.
Wherever the law is pervert-
ed or destroyed, tyranny takes
over and society is democrat
lied.
In any legal case there are
two points of view. Decisions
therefore, are not acceptable
to both sides. But our whole
system of law could be I'M
dermined if decisions unac-
ceptable to one side should
not, in fact, be accepted.
If decisions of the highest
court are disobeyed because
they are unacceptable to one
side, no right, no contract, no
insurance policy, no pension,
no will would be safe. Organ
lied society would become
impossible and the people
would have to rely on private
force to settle their disputes.
Furthermore, if one mans
legal rights are denied, the
rights of all Americans are in
danger.
That is what is at issue in
the Meredith case. 1t does not
mean that criticism is forbid
den or disagreement barred.
For these are the lifeblood of
our free society. Laws must
constantly be revised and
court decisions reviewed. But,
in the meantime, judicial de-
cisions constitute the law of
the land.
Courts Law OF The Lund'
/ am convinced that = deS-
pite the refusal Of some Of
ficials to obey the law, to ac-
cept their sworn responsible
ties as leaders, or to honor
their agreements = the peo-
pie of Mississippi and of the
South live by the law.
And | firmly believe that
throughout our nation citizens
from all areas, South, North,
East and West, want to make
progress in guaranteeing fun
damental liberties to all our
citizens.
We are making progress.
Some of it has resulted from
government action. But of
even greater significance is
the fact that officials and citi-
zens of many southern COM
munities have moved to end
segregation themselves.
The Department of Justice
has not brought a single civil
rights case without first 60
ing to the local authorities.
We have informed them of
what appears to us to be a
violation of the law.
There are no front page
stories, but there are changes.
There are results and they
are brought about by local
officials - not the govern
ment in Washington. In the
long run, this is what is of
real importance.
Obviously the path ahead
is difficult and there will be
problems in the civil rights
field. But We must secure full
rights of citizenship and the
full measure of human digni-
ty for every American in
every corner of our land.
We must do this because
We cannot do otherwise and
effectively lead the free
world against the tyranny of
international communism, but
more Importantly, we must
do it because it is right.