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ADDRESS TO FOURTH OF JULY CEREMONIES, PENSACOLA, FLA.
1965
1776 seems so far away
Muskets -- sailing ships -- Red Coats -- Taxation without
representation
Grandfather 1853 -- knew men who were alive in 1776
Not long ages ago
Not last in time
Yesterday
Mortar on the cornerstone still wet
the house is not yet built
One of the great Methodist ministers
John Wesley Branscombe
I hope the significance of that day is not lost
Fragile freedom -- not with age, but with youth
I can well remember as a boy shaking hands with someone I
thought great -- looked at hand with awe -- as though his
spirit had flowed into mine
We are all links in the chain of life
Unbreakably to our ancestors
Unbreakably to our heirs.
We cherish the memory of our fathers
The name of Nathan Hale. John Paul Jones. and Dewey and Perry --
lift us because we are theirs
They placed on our shoulders a debt --
It's being paid -- in Viet Nam -- in Santo Domingo -- and here I-
The fact that we have modern day version). of Benedict-Arnold
does not persuade me
This July 4. like that other. is a special day, full of challenge. full of
threats and dangers.
We are involved in a war in Asia. the course of which cannot be
foretold. I do not fear the outcome because it is obvious to any who see
that young Americans are still worthy heirs of freedom. They are still
willing to fight and to die for values more precious than life. How much
more credit is due the soldiers and the marines fighting in the jungles of
Viet Nam and the airmen flying above it than those who followed Washing-
ton to Valley Forge? In that first American struggle, the palpable goals
were the security of homes and freedom. In Viet Nam the goals are the
less discernible ones of the security of friends and freedom.
We are involved in painful adjustments in Europe. Old enemies
have become our friends. and old friends sometimes act like enemies.
Even on that continent, with the people of which we have so many ties of
trade, culture and security. the goals of peace and freedom seem elusive.
But our failure should not blind us to the fact that for many decades there
have been no fortifications along the several thousand miles of our northern
border. In the great fresh water seas that partly separate our country
from Canada. no naval craft ply the waters. Along our southern border
with Mexico there are no forts, no show of martial strength. These nations
that live closest to us and know us best live in peace without fear. That
spirit of justice and common purpose that gave our forefathers the
inspiration and ability to knit together an indissoluble union has not withered
and died; indeed. it has encompassed more people and more lands than
Madison and Franklin could have dreamed.
Mr. Yoshida. formerly Prime Minister of Japan, criticises Americans
for not understanding the people of Viet Nam -- indeed, for not understanding the
people of the Orient. The criticism is probably valid. And the failure to
achieve such an understanding is certainly a great handicap. But Oriental
people, Mr. Yoshida implies, do understand something about America:
That we seek no empire; that we seek to achieve for others. rightly or
wrongly, the blessings of freedom and prosperity which we have achieved 1
for ourselves.
We have not solved all the problems of democracy. We have racial
and political minorities that seem unable to accommodate, or be accommodated 1
to our society. We have political machines, political apathy. sectionalism,
legislation by mob action. inequalities before the law. But consider the
great strides we have made. We have learned from the Greeks how to live
under democracy; from the Romans how to live under law. We have tempered
these lessons with love of one God which we have learned from the Hebrews.
and added the concern for our fellow man, because he is a man. which we
learned from Jesus. Because we are imperfect. even with this heritage,
there is no likelihood that we can overcome all of the problems of living
together; because of our heritage. there is little likelihood that these problems
can overcome UR.
When Benjamin Franklin stepped out of Constitution Hall in Philadelphia,
he was asked. "What kind of government do we have?" His answer could
just as well be made today as then: "A Republic -- if you can keep it. "
We have kept it, and made it work.
We are going to keep it, and make it better.
Tyrants in other lands try to lay exclusive claim to revolution --
pretend. may believe, the American Revolution is dead. How wilfully blind
they are.
Some months ago I rode through the campus of the University of
Miami -- at night. Every room glowed with light . .
In the town where I grew up. an Assyrian couple who could barely speak
English ran a small store on a corner near the school .
A patriot has said, and I believe him, that America has nothing to {ear
save the decay of manhood, the betryal of our heritage. the apathy of
indifference. and the corrosion of individual responsibility. Still, as of old,
we may choose whom we will serve. I am more certain today of the choice
our people would make, do make. than I would have been in 1776.
If there are those who say we have lost the spirit of democracy, point
out to them the treatment the United States colossus accorded to defiant
little Sigman Rhee. He was not kkked out of office -- no charges were
trumped up against him -- he did not die suddenly from some strange and
mysterious ailment. Instead, he was treated as an equal -- treated on the
assumption that he and his people had a right to make their own decisions.
even though they were mistaken. even though they cost the lives of
American boys. There has not been in all history a finer example of the
ideal of democracy at work on an international scale.
if you fear that the corrosion of individual responsibility has set in.
let me testify from my own experience in politics and community affairs
that the man who is unwilling to give a part of his time and substance towards
the betterment of his community and nation is the exception, not the rule.
Churches are being built faster than they can be recorded -- and each one is
built from money contributed by individuals who feel their personal
responsibility. Chambers of Commerce thrive because businessmen
recognize that each one must play his part in uplifting society. So much a
part of our way of life gm these voluntary contributions that the internal
Revenue laws give us a deduction whether we can prove these contributions
or not.
How great is our heritage! How marvelous are our opportunities!
When there are those. either on the right or the left of the spectrum of our
national political faith. who question the validity and vitality of our fathers'
dreams. tell them they are not false -- they are not dead -- they have been
realized. and are being realized every day. We take those dreams for
granted. and dream new dreams, see new vis ions. What we sought for
ourselves we now seek to share with the world.
I know that for people in the Armed Serv ices. and particularly for
.eir families. these are trying and perilous times. You arrive at this
zint in your lives, July the Fourth, 1965, when the Nation and the world
:em to wait for the impact of your efforts.
"You that have faith to look with fearless eyes beyond the
tragedy of a world at strife; and know that out of death and
night shall arise the dawn of ample life.
"Rejoice, whatever anguish rend the heart, that God has given
you the priceless dower to live in these great times and have
your part in freedom's crowning hour --
"That you may tell your sons who see the light high in the
heavens -- their heritage to take -; 'I saw the powers of
darkness take their ight -- I saw the morning break. "'
PAGE 1
Grnfter-1 5 -ke mnwowr
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..... ......etl awri A ite oreofwihcant
PAGE 3
Madison ~ ~ ~ ... ..nd Frn.ncud aedemd
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Ae haekp t ad mdit work
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rriysterious ailment. Instead, he was treated as an equal -treated on the assumption that he and his people had a right to make their owrt decisions, even though they were mistaken, even though they cost the lives of Americart boys. There has not been in all history a finer example of the ideal of democracy at work on an interriational scale. If you fear that the corrosion of individual responsibility has set iri, let rne testify from my owri experieriee in politics and community affairs that the mari who is towilling to give a part of his time and substance tomar the betterment of his community and nation is the exception, not the rule. Churches are being built faster than they can be recorded -and each one i built from morley contributed by individuals who feel their personal responsibility. Chambers of Commerce thrive because businessmen recognize that each one must play his part in uplifting society. So much a part of our way of life are these voluntary contributions that the Internal Revenue laws give us a deduction whether we can prove these contributions or rint. How great in our heritage 1 1-[ow marvelous are our opportunities When there are those, either on the right or the left of the spectrum of our national political faith, who question the validity and vitality of our fathers' dreams, tell them they are not false -they are not dead -they have been realized. and are l>cing realized every day. We take those dreams for granted, and dream new dreams see new vis ions. What we sought for .nirseves we now sak to share with the warld.
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I kn.th.t -o people nh Ame Ser cn ariual o in y-u lIves July th. F1-rh, 1965, wh.. th ainan h ld Y-u 1h.t h-v faith t. 1-o -th 1-1-es -ye beyodth tra-dy of .wold at -tri,; -n k... tha -u .f de-th ..d night -1a1 .rIT. dawn of -mpk life. ''ejic, -.--ve --uih r-d -h h-ar, that God h-s give y. Ih. Pr-dwr t. 1e in tg-a t-1 ..d hav y,,ur part in fred.' -r-nig h-u -'Tha, y..ma -Yl yo1 r Y.s h. -e-h light high -in th havens -thIr h-r-g t. La-'I .., Ih. p.w-r f d-rk-. t1k1 lh-i fligh, -I -a th m-rnig brea.. '''
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