428 State Papers and Addresses

This flag represents the government and political institutions of the most
splendid Republic ever builded by the genius and statemanship of man. It is
based upon a noble concept of the rights of the individual—that government
rests upon and is created to serve the individual—that in his personal responsi-
bility lies its weakness or its strength.

These colors are emblematic of the Constitution of the United States and
its distribution and separation of governmental power. Every American knows
that the Constitution is a great barrier between his liberty and tyranny.

Americans should remember that its covenants have preserved for them
and for posterity that which was wrested by turbulent barons from an unwill-
ing king. Through its lines is woven the brave spirit of a Parliament that
dared defy the Crown. It throbs with the spirit of that ringing declaration
that circled the globe and thrilled the world. In its stately stanzas they may
catch the drum beat and hear the tramp of Contintntal armies, and majestically
moving through its pages are the statemenship of Madison and Franklin and
other patriot fathers, and the calm courage and lofty patriotism of Washington.

That is the America our fathers gave us. This is our America, we are de-
termined that it shall remain our America. If it is to remain our America we,
and we alone, can preserve it and protect it and hand it down to our sons,
stronger and nobler for our having lived and served and sacrificed. Every
citizen of the Republic has a task and a duty to preserve it—civilian and soldier
alike. Individual right, individual privilege, carries with it individual responsi-
bility.

This is our America, our Democracy, ours to govern, ours to advance, ours
to perfect and protect, and ours to make more glorious. Every American has
a solemn and lofty duty laid upon him, a duty commensurate with his ability,
his resources, and his intellect. We must stamp out and extirpate communism
and all other foreign "isms" and subversive influences which seek to under-
mine things American. We shall tolerate neither the "fifth column, " nor the
espionage, nor sobotage of foreign agents, nor the treachery of any domestic
influence or group.

This is our America. It shall remain our America.

The United States and its people are devoted to the ideals of peace. We
•want not war. Our people have never drawn the sword except with reluctance
and to vindicate the violation of sacred rights. We want to lead our own life
and attain our national destiny without foreign aggression or involvement.
This Nation entertains no imperial ambitions. We covet neither territory nor
riches of any other land. But this Nation does not propose to be the victim of
foreign aggression or conquest. We do not want a foot of foreign territory,
not a mile of any country under the sun, but by the same token, we shall not
give up a single inch of American territory to any aggressor on the face of the
earth. We do not propose to dictate to any other people or nation on the globe
its form of government or political institutions. On the other hand, we do pro-
pose to maintain our own system and to lead our own way of life.

Today the world is staggered by a terrible picture of blood and horror.
The clouds that hang above one of the fairest regions on earth are charged with