What is this precious right that we call our
liberty? It is not a religion. It is not a philosophy.
It is not a form of government. Liberty is a
privilege. Always remember that liberty is a
way of life. It is ours to enjoy while we're
here. Follow us here. The desire for liberty
is born in the heart of every living soul, and
the concept of liberty is as old as mankind.
Liberty is to virtue what light is to color.
It is to wealth what sunshine is to grain. It
is to knowledge what eyes are to sight. It is
the genius of invention. It's the brawn of national
strength. It is the spirit of national independence.
It is our blessed America that gave to the world
the most powerful. the most dynamic political
and moral force in the history of man. And we
need never be ashamed of what our forefathers
gave to the world. It has its roots deep... in
the spiritual substance of Christianity. It receives
its political inspiration from the logic of the
Stoics, from the compassion of the martyrs, from
the faith of the philosophers. We are of the
first to present to the world a coherent political
faith based upon the dignity of the individual.
and the equality and fraternity of mankind. We
are of the first to pattern a structure of government
and a form of society in which the liberties
of a people are guaranteed and opportunities
are to be secured. America is but a thin light
in the long black history of human bondage. Our
forefathers who first sought sanctuary here came
in search of human liberty. Our saintly forefathers
wrote in sacrificial blood the declaration on
the unrolled scroll of the battlefields. And
sometimes we forget these things. Our pioneering
forefathers, who built our civilization, purged
their souls in the crucible of moral, political,
and economic fires. These are the basis of America,
the foundation on which America was founded.
Our ideals are inscribed upon our American shields.
Liberty, political, economic, religious, and
social. Equality in opportunity, in education,
and privileges. Fraternity among men of all classes.
It is our message to all mankind. It is our foundation
stone of free government. The United States is
the only nation on earth today that is founded
and based on these concepts of liberty. And if
we do not fight to preserve it, then we do not
deserve it. Today, Our democracy is challenged
by the super monsters of history. Communism is
challenging our American freedom. It's challenging
our American way of life. It is seeking to destroy
our American way of living. It is seeking to
destroy the Ten Commandments. It is tragic that
there are traitors in our midst. who enjoy the
sacred privileges of moral and spiritual freedom,
but are ready to exchange our blood -bought heritage
for the wicked concepts of godless communism.
We are prepared to battle not only for our form
of government. We are prepared to battle for
the substance. of our American soul. And no true
American will ever permit our goddess of liberty
to be crucified on the cross of tyranny. America
is God's country. This is Stenial. God's... And
if you and I do not fight to preserve it, then
we do not deserve it. To grasp faintly its future
is to exhaust the imagination. The past is but
a happy prologue to the swelling of an imperial
theme. America will continue to be the fixed
star in the constellation of nations. And so
let us all speak up for America. Instead of criticizing
America. Instead of finding fault with America.
The hour has come when we need to speak up for
America. To fight for America. to pray for America
so that this government of you and me, for you
and me, by you and me, shall endure forever and
for all mankind. Free people, remember, we may
acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if
it is once lost and god grants liberty only to
those who love it and who are always ready to
guard and defend it above all we must stand shoulder
to shoulder for the honor and the greatness of
our country A poor freedom is better than a rich
slavery. Let us at all times remember that all
American citizens are brothers of a common country.
We have room in this country for but one flag,
the stars and stripes. We have room for but one
loyalty. the loyalty to the United States. Our
job is to save America for ourselves and our
way of life. And the soul of that way of life
is the supremacy and freedom of the individual
in a state organized to serve him and not to
enslave him. Yes, beloved, let us never forget
that we are the citizens of a mighty republic
consecrated to the service of God above through
the service of men on earth. And we in America
had better soon find a way of doing away with
prejudice, hate, greed, violence. or we will
do away with our most priceless possession, our
liberty, our freedom. Today, I am proud to say
I am an American.