264 State Papers and Addresses

Among the other virtues of an alert Democracy is its responsiveness to
changing international climate. During the 1920's America led the world
toward the idealistic hope of Peace through Disarmament. We deliberately
buried our weapons, we trustfully suspended our preparations for war in
optimism, supposing that our example might have some benign effect upon
war-minded peoples beyond the seas. We went further. We proclaimed our
policy of isolationism. We gave unwitting encouragement to power-hungry
dictators by declaring, again and again, that whatever happened in Europe
was no concern of ours.

We know better now. We know that whenever a bell tolls for some
deceased Democracy, it tolls also for us. I have said that a virtue of an
alert Democracy is its responsiveness. Can we realize that in one short year
American internationalism has grown up ? We are no longer the babes in
the woods of World Affairs. This time last year our motto was "Keep America
out of War. " Today it is "Keep War out of America. " There is all the
difference between those two slogans. There is the difference between naive
hopefulness and sophisticated knowledge. There is the same difference that
exists between the man who sits on his porch whistling: "River, stay away
from my door, " and the man who gets up and builds himself a dike.

And this awakening to the facts, this alert responsiveness to storm
clouds is one of the few rifts of sunlight on the dark horizon. "The price of
liberty is eternal vigilance. " Today we are paying that price—and paying
it gladly. Whatever the cost in money, in personal sacrifice is a paltry sum
for value received—the assurance that we shall wake in the early light of any
dawn and know that the Flag is still there!

Our people must realize that armaments are necessary, that only the
most sustained efforts at preparedness will be adequate should a greater
emergency arise. They must realize that even though armaments are costly,
they are not nearly as costly as defeat, a defeat that not only would destroy
our own free institutions, but that would inevitably mark the passing of
Democracy itself upon this earth.

"On this Armistice Day of 1940, " we in America have much over which
to be jubilant, even though at the same time we have much about which to be
concerned. As the one remaining exponent of Democracy in the world that
is not actively engaged in war, we have the immense satisfaction of knowing
that our Democratic way of life has not been extinguished. While millions
of other less fortunate people of the world must speak with bated breath;
must read only to government-sponsored programs and statements on the
air; must attend only government-dictated meetings; we here in America
still are the masters of our own souls. The American people are the masters
of government and not its servants.

To preserve all we have we should dedicate this Armistice Day of 1940
to National Unity. All of our people, regardless of class, or creed, or color,
have one great common interest. That interest is Our Nation, and no division
between or among citizens can be allowed to separate us. The blessings of
liberty and freedom are for everybody, and consequently, all should stand
united in upholding the principles which characterize Democracy.

National Unity should be the watchword not only of this day, but of
every day during the ensuing year. One citizen has as great a claim on this
government as any other citizen. The most humble American, the plainest,