eric am sm:
Its Meaning and Its Keeping
v 1
These remarks tran
the President ctf e Htftea'
States were coittpfliXl
by the White Hoil 4
Q : r . . M. inlw
message for eftfilftve
release today
I N of fourth of July speeches, we say America seeks
no dominion over others, that she believes in the dignity of man. We say these
things, and wo Ix-lieve them, for they are true.
Hut an American can scarcely consider that he is doing his full duty to his
country unless he slum's this belief in Americanism, and realizes that he is
showing himself to others as one of the products of this system. As an Amer
ican, you are set apart from all other individuals.
First, you must know what Americanism really is. You have got to know
that here we have a government of, by, and for free men, and one based solidly
on religious concepts.
You also must know something of the history of your country, how we came
to be what we are. You have got to believe with all your soul that it is a
system that will allow people to reach the greatest degree of earthly happiness
of which we are capable, that we can seek to express ourselves, to realize all
that is within us.
In our own land, it is largely through the family that our national character
is formed. Americans love fair play, bravery, and hard work; they believe in
human brotherhood because American fathers and mothers by precept and
example teach these virtues to their children. So long as these ennobling
qualities are passed from general ion to generation, our nation will remain
strong ami secure a.id groat.
Faced with this fact, it is imperative that our Government never rest in its
task of serving the Am.itican home. In every wav possible, we must keep our
families spiritually rich, strong, and free.
To this end, many groups-health, educational, welfare, religious) and Governmental-must
work together to supplement the efforts of the family itself,
this work to strengthen the American home is not sheer humanitarianism on
the part of these groups; it is an investment in the national well-being.
Amcca seeks peace. But unless peace is taught in the home by the mother,
anting that age where everything that is learned and absorbed stays with us
so strongly there ,s go.ng , be no peace. This is the foundation on which
the men and women ot our nation can build an abiding happiness for them
selves and their children.
Without God. of course, there could be no American form of government,
nor any American way of hfe. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first
and most basic expression of Americanism. Thus the Founding Father, saw
it. and thus, with God s help, it will continue to be
with nvm!' Tm r" Vu'Yll'S Ind,-' Day is narrow, long. fend sct
k o H '" d"V We nU1St ,ht AlmiBhty God will Mtnd
i S c. t I Z cK " their Gocl-givw rights Utd in,
full contiol of a G,e:,met,t dodged to ,lle servatiofc o Oxae, rights,
rstsMem of the United States
Family fVerfcty, Jut .fi).