TEXT
"Loyalty"
It is important that we should constantly keep before us the
duty of inculcating in the minds of our citizens from overseas the
true meaning and significance of America, and the high duty that
rests upon every generation to sustain our blessed institutions,
and to transmit them to posterity strengthened and unimpaired. The
test of good citizenship is loyalty to country. And one cannot
discharge the duty of loyalty without the patient and an open
minded study of the institution that marked the country and defined
its character. America stands for individual liberty, but that
means an ordered liberty. A liberty subject to law and subordinate
to the common welfare.
The social and industrial structure of America is founded upon
an enlightened citizenship. This presupposes education.
Americanism demands loyalty to the teacher and respect for his
lesson. I am deeply concerned with the diminution of the teaching
strength of the country as a result of the disproportionately low
salaries that are paid to teachers throughout the country. We must
look to this right promptly. It is a condition that must not be
suffered to continue.
Loyalty to America means loyalty to her children's servants
from president down. We must stifle the voice of hatred and
faction. We must realize that there is not a man who holds office
except as a result of the free choice of our citizens. It is a
high patriotic duty that we support and sustain the men who have
been placed in position of difficulty, burden, responsibility, and
even danger as the result of our suffrages. That does not mean
that we must forego just and fair criticism, or refrain from
opposition to policies which are debatable or which do not command
our approval. An intelligent and conscientious opposition is a
part of loyalty to country. But we must not, if we are loyal,
disperse our energies in a partisan warfare that is waged without
regard to its consequences to the well being, security, or honor of
the country.
We must be loyal to the forum of our government. Under it we
have grown great in numbers, wealth, and national influence. We
must be loyal to the words that have come down to us from the past,
bequeathed by Americans who have lived great lives in the service
of America. Loyalty to America requires that we should preserve a
friendly and encouraging and sympathetic goodwill toward our day
and generation. Like pictures, men should be judged by their
merits and not by their defects. Loyalty will not permit envy,
hate, and uncharitableness to creep into our public thinking.
Thus, only in a hopeful and confident temper, in a proud and
constructive spirit, will we rescue the present and safeguard the
future of our beloved country. The times call loudly to each of us
for loyalty -- loyalty of purpose, loyalty of thought, loyalty of
effort, and the loyalty of patience.
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