"My Countrymen"

A new-sworn President's first words are usually, "My Countrymen." Excerpts from what new-sworn President Hoover said next:

Humility. I assume this trust in the humility of knowledge that only through the guidance of Almighty Providence can I hope to discharge its ever-increasing burdens.

The Race. We are steadily building a new race--a new civilization great in its own attainments.

Coolidge. For wise guidance in this great period of recovery the nation is deeply indebted to Calvin Coolidge.

But all this majestic advance should not obscure the constant dangers from which self-government must be safeguarded. The strong man must at all times be alert to the attack of insidious disease.

Crime. Crime is increasing. Confidence in rigid and speedy justice is decreasing. I am not prepared to believe that it indicates an impotence of the Federal Government to enforce its laws.

It is only in part due to the additional burdens imposed upon our judicial system by the 18th Amendment. The problem is much wider than that. Many influences had increasingly complicated and weakened our law enforcement organization long before the adoption of the 18th Amendment.

To re-establish the vigor and effectiveness of law enforcement we must critically consider the entire Federal machinery of justice, the redistribution of its functions, the simplification of its procedure. The provision of additional special tribunals, the better selection of juries, and the more effective organization of our agencies of investigation and prosecution that justice may be sure and that it may be swift.

. . . Intricate and involved rules of procedure have become the refuge of both big and little criminals.

. . . To consider these evils, to find their remedy, is the most sore necessity of our times.

Prohibition. A large responsibility rests directly upon our citizens. There would be little traffic in illegal liquor if only criminals patronized it.

. . . The duty of citizens to support the laws of the land is co-equal with the duty of their Government to enforce the laws which exist. No greater national service can be given by men and women of good will. . . . Than that they should, by their example, assist in stamping put crime and outlawry by refusing participation in and condemning all transactions with illegal liquor.

. . . If citizens do not like a law, their duty as honest men and women is to discourage its violation: their right is openly to work for its repeal.

Inquiry. I propose to appoint a national commission for a searching investigation of the whole structure of our Federal system of jurisprudence, to include the method of enforcement of the 18th

Amendment and the causes of abuse under it. . . .*

Business. Regulation of private enterprise and not government ownership or operation is the course rightly to be pursued in our relation to business.

Peace. The whole world is at peace. The dangers to a continuation of this peace today are largely the fear and suspicion which still haunt the world. No suspicion or fear can be rightly directed toward our country.

. . . Superficial observers seem to find no destiny for our abounding increase in population, in wealth and power except that of imperialism. They fail to see that the American people are engrossed in the building for themselves of a new economic system, a new social system, a new political system--all of which are characterized by aspirations of freedom. . . .

The recent treaty ... an advanced standard. . . .

The permanent Court of International Justice . . . American ideals. . . . American statesmanship. No more potent instrumentality for this purpose has ever been conceived and no other is practicable of establishment. The reservations placed upon our adherence should not be misinterpreted.

I have lately returned from a journey among our sister Republics. . . . We wish only for the maintenance of their independence. . . . While we have had wars in the western hemisphere yet on the whole the record is in encouraging contrast with other parts of the world. . . . It is impossible, my countrymen, to speak of Peace without profound emotion. In thousands of homes in America, in millions of homes around the world, there are vacant chairs. It would be a shameful confession of our unworthiness if it should develop that we have abandoned the hope for which all these men died. Surely civilization is old enough, surely mankind is mature enough so that we ought in our own lifetime to find a way to permanent Peace. . . .

Peace can be contributed to by respect for our ability in defense. . . It will become a reality only through self-restraint and active effort in friendliness and helpfulness. I covet for this administration a record of having further contributed to advance the cause of Peace.

Parties. The animosities of elections should have no place in our Government. . . .

Special Session. Further agricultural relief and limited changes in the tariff cannot in justice to our farmers, our labor and our manufacturers be postponed. I shall therefore request a special session of Congress. . . .

Hope. I have no fears for the future of our country. It is bright with hope.

Plea. I beg your tolerance, your aid and cooperation. I ask the help of Almighty God in this service to my country to which you have called me.

*At this point President Hoover, reading from manuscript, inadvertently skipped part of his text. The omission: "In the meantime it is essential that a large part of the enforcement activities be transferred from the Treasury Department to the Department of Justice."