72G State Papers and Addresses

now engages us was an inevitable affair. One of the foundling fathers expressed
it long ago when he cried: "Our brothers are already in the field. Why stand
we here idle?"

Our brothers'? Yes—for we have a kinship, ordered of God, with liberty-
minded people the world over. If there happened to be some who did not recog-
nize the inevitability of the struggle, certainly our present enemy recognized it.
They knew, with the guilt of their depraved souls, that someday—somehow—
they must fight America before they could ever hope to trample liberty from the
earth. That is why they struck first; that is why in desperation and criminal
madness, they used treachery at Pearl Harbor. That is why they have infected
us with spies and Fifth Columnists for many years past.

But now, and for the least seven months, the battle has been joined. The
test is being made whether we—and all mankind—shall possess the God-given
right of freedom, or shall wear the chains of savery. Here in America we see
that quite plainly. But that is not all. We are a Democracy, geared for peace
and progress, thrown in against the greatest war machine ever constructed.

Our State Governments are an integral part of our Organized Freedom.
We know, and we are learning more clearly daily, how the War effort here at
home is helped by State Sovereignty. What we have is not 48 subdivisions of
Government, but 48 living parts to the larger organism. Have we not strength
in depth for defense—and power by weight of energy for victorious achieve-
ments?

That is what the Founders believed when the Constitution was created by
"we the People. " Today we have the task of reaffirming that belief; of justify-
ing that great work; of continuing to perform the Miracle of America.

Anyone who might ever have entertained doubts as to the prospects of
America and the United Nations in this war had ample reason for restored con-
fidence in the thrilling stories published during the last two days, of the glorious
American Victory in the Battle 01 Midway. In every phase of that conflict
gallant airmen no alternative but to give their all, if necessary, to wipe out, to
there was evident that feeling of inspired belief in their cause that left our
destroy utterly, the mightiest forces that ensaved Japan, could bring against
them. That spirit, reflected by our flyers, was simply the spirit of America,
that spirit that brought the early settlers to Maryland and other states, that
urged them to dare forests and prairies and mountains in their westward search
for better things, that bolstered their arms in every hour of crisis faced by our
Nation from the earliest days.

America won't be beaten in this war because it is simply inconceivable to
the spirit of America that defeat could come. Democracy, with all its freedoms
and privileges that have been the life's blood of our people for three centuries
and more, is so precious that death itself is a small price to pay for its preser-
vation.

No, it may not be this year, but it will be next year, or the year after, or
even years after that; but whenever this war does end, be assured that it will
in America's favor. While there is one sturdy American left to resist, slavery
will never be foisted upon the 48 states that compose this greatest of all Great
Nations!