"On the eve of a national election, it is well for us
to stop for a moment and analyze calmly and without prejudice the effect on
our Nation of a victory by either of the major political parties.
The problem of the electorate is far deeper, far more vital than the
continuance in the Presidency of any individual. For the greater issue goes
beyond units of humanity--it goes to humanity itself.
In 1932 the issue was the restoration of American democracy; and the American
people were in a mood to win. They did win. In 1936 the issue is the
preservation of their victory. Again they are in a mood to win. Again they
will win.
More than four years ago in accepting the Democratic nomination in Chicago, I
said: "Give me your help not to win votes alone, but to win in this
crusade to restore America to its own people."
The banners of that crusade still fly in the van of a Nation that is on the
march.
It is needless to repeat the details of the program which this Administration
has been hammering out on the anvils of experience. No amount of
misrepresentation or statistical contortion can conceal or blur or smear that
record. Neither the attacks of unscrupulous enemies nor the exaggerations of
over-zealous friends will serve to mislead the American people.
What was our hope in 1932? Above all other things the American people wanted
peace. They wanted peace of mind instead of gnawing fear.
First, they sought escape from the personal terror which had stalked them for
three years. They wanted the peace that comes from security in their homes:
safety for their savings, permanence in their jobs, a fair profit from their
enterprise.
Next, they wanted peace in the community, the peace that springs from the
ability to meet the needs of community life: schools, playgrounds, parks,
sanitation, highways--those things which are expected of solvent local
government. They sought escape from disintegration and bankruptcy in local
and state affairs.
They also sought peace within the Nation: protection of their currency,
fairer wages, the ending of long hours of toil, the abolition of child labor,
the elimination of wild-cat speculation, the safety of their children from
kidnappers.
And, finally, they sought peace with other Nations--peace in a world of
unrest. The Nation knows that I hate war, and I know that the Nation hates
war.
I submit to you a record of peace; and on that record a well-founded
expectation for future peace--peace for the individual, peace for the
community, peace for the Nation, and peace with the world...
For twelve years this Nation was afflicted with hear-nothing, see-nothing,
do-nothing Government. The Nation looked to Government but the Government
looked away. Nine mocking years with the golden calf and three long years of
the scourge! Nine crazy years at the ticker [tape] and three long years in
the breadlines! Nine mad years of mirage and three long years of despair!
Powerful influences strive today to restore that kind of government with its
doctrine that that Government is best which is most indifferent.
For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of
twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves
rolled up.
We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial
monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war
profiteering.
They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage
to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just
as dangerous as Government by organized mob.
Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one
candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me--and I
welcome their hatred...
Our vision for the future contains more than promises.
This is our answer to those who, silent about their own plans, ask us to
state our objectives.
Of course we will continue to seek to improve working conditions for the
workers of America--to reduce hours over-long, to increase wages that spell
starvation, to end the labor of children, to wipe out sweatshops. Of course
we will continue every effort to end monopoly in business, to support collective
bargaining, to stop unfair competition, to abolish dishonorable trade
practices. For all these we have only just begun to fight.
Of course we will continue to work for cheaper electricity in the homes and
on the farms of America, for better and cheaper transportation, for low
interest rates, for sounder home financing, for better banking, for the
regulation of security issues, for reciprocal trade among nations, for the
wiping out of slums. For all these we have only just begun to fight.
Of course we will continue our efforts in behalf of the farmers of America.
With their continued cooperation we will do all in our power to end the
piling up of huge surpluses which spelled ruinous prices for their crops. We
will persist in successful action for better land use, for reforestation, for
the conservation of water all the way from its source to the sea, for drought
and flood control, for better marketing facilities for farm commodities, for
a definite reduction of farm tenancy, for encouragement of farmer cooperatives,
for crop insurance and a stable food supply. For all these we have only just
begun to fight.
Of course we will provide useful work for the needy unemployed; we prefer
useful work to the pauperism of a dole.
Here and now I want to make myself clear about those who disparage their
fellow citizens on the relief rolls. They say that those on relief are not
merely jobless--that they are worthless. Their solution for the relief
problem is to end relief--to purge the rolls by starvation. To use the language
of the stock broker, our needy unemployed would be cared for when, as, and if
some fairy godmother should happen on the scene.
You and I will continue to refuse to accept that estimate of our unemployed
fellow Americans. Your Government is still on the same side of the street
with the Good Samaritan and not with those who pass by on the other
side..."
Franklin D. Roosevelt, October 31, 1936
