484

State Papers and Addresses

It undoubtedly is a matter of great pride to you, and well it may be, that
in no un-American activity have your members ever been engaged; with no
subversive attempt to overthrow the fundamentals of American Government
Lave any of your leaders ever been identified; in no loud outcry distorting the
real concept of representative government have the voices of your spokesmen
ever been lifted. Here, in truth, is proof of the inseparable connection which
ranks your Order with the basic doctrines of American civilization, and I ven-
ture to assert with confidence that these firm ties will remain strong and
abiding.

Happily, and to the everlasting good of your Country and its citizens, you
have adhered to the theory that the best way to have true fraternity among
men is to practice it yourselves. As exemplars of this policy, you have achieved
success in the eyes of an approving citizenry.

Because of your emphasis upon the brotherhood of man, you continually
put to shame those who would divide man against man, nation against nation.
You have given indisputable evidence that there are basic traits and character-
istics common to all, which are to be found in your fellowmen from every part
of the world, if only one takes the trouble to look for such traits and Qualities.
In the membership of your national organization, residing within this State, we
are proud to acknowledge and proclaim outstanding and wholehearted adherence
to lofty ideals which have been evidenced in their lives, individually and col-
lectively.

I said before that our Nation is fortunate in having at any time, organiza-
tions like yours. Doubly fortunate are we as Americans to have in this time
of crisis, when above all else national unity is the first requisite, an organiza-
tion which makes and always has made unity one of its first objectives.

Merely to be here this evening and to have this session in absolute freedom
and with never a worry as to immediate attack from a hostile force, is in it-
self striking evidence of what it means to be an American, and, further, of
how necessary it is that our American rights and freedom be preserved.

To do this we are embarked, as you know, upon a national policy that
represents the best thought of our duly elected leaders in Washington. As
such, it is a policy that merits the unstinted backing of every American.

We are faced, as a Nation, with momentous problems and with the un-
doubted necessity of preparing ourselves adequately to defend our land and
our free institutions against any threats. To accomplish this, and let me say
this just as forcibly as it is within my power, we must have unity of mind and
heart, and purpose, among all our citizens, such a unity as unfortunately is not
apparent now in many sections of our land.

Our Nation must function as a unit. Our strength is to be measured and
judged by the solidarity of the central life-line. Sporatic energy and isolated
examples of brilliancy are not enough. Let us be specific. We know from past
records that the American soldier is brave, that our military strategists have
ranked with the greatest of all times.

To this very day the exploits and maneuvers of Stonewall Jackson are
used in textbooks for training officers all over the world. The indomitability