806 State Papers and Addresses

Do we need proof? Well, proof is there to behold. France had a military
tradition; she had her Napoleon. She had brave soldiers; she had her Maginot
Line. But her soldiers died or fled, her leaders betrayed her, her defenses
cracked. We know why now. She lacked that inner coordination—she was
not strong at the core.

And conversely—there is England. She had no Panzer divisions—no
Luftwaffe. She was outnumbered, out-maneuvered, our-produced. But in her
she had the saving quality of of one-ness. She stood up against such -an on-
slaught as the world had never known. She is free today because of strength
at the core. We shall be free and forever unbeatable so long, and only so long,
as we have that unbroken ine of strength that gives unity and cohesion to the
National effort.

Russia, too, has given to the world a never-to-be forgotten example of what
National Unity can do. Russia's homeland will never yield to any conqueror,
because her sturdy people, divided in race and blood though they may be, are
united firmly in the love of their country.

In our striving towards National Unity, you and the other members of
this great organization throughout the Country are performing a patriotic
achievement of the highest order. Certainly, never was a goal more worth the
leaching; never a Country more worthy of the ultimate effort of every one of
its citizens.

America, as our ancestors have known it, and as our descendants must con-
tinue to know it, is the ideal of popular government. Under its unique Con-
stitution we are guaranteed rights and privileges and opportunities such as no
other people on. the face of the earth have ever enjoyed. But as these rights
and privileges have. been ours to enjoy, so now they are ours to protect.

For the sake of those to come after us; for the sake of our own self -respect
than safeguard our Governmental institutions with all our energy, with all our
as citizens of the greatest Country the world has ever known., we can do no less
effort, with our lives, if need be! I know that the members of this Order, true
to the ideals which membership in their order entails, will continue to measure
up to every responsibility of American citizenship!