Repository: UIHistories Project: Convocation - 1942 Winter-Spring [PAGE 72]

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> • I Htal imen, when the) fall int< i legalists vein, < |M)intin| i lefferaon whi he terms I n the de< isions oi the majoi it)." and I M oln when h M t majoi it) held in n train! b) i onstitutional ch( i ks lh ui i triM but the) do not disclose the essence < i Democracy » llu \ detitu ur m hods, but not our aims rhey dcscrib< the skeleton, bu I I) in its mil throbbin \ iln\. \n,| ,t )s | >,.,,„„ lil( » j n :1k tk.it we crav< i IM ttei understandin of In this hou when I cy is imperilled we do not wanl t.> be like the \ ided \ ui man who, when asked to state whal Ins religion was was thai oi Ins fathers; and, when asked whal theii reli ion was, could i ih reph thai he wasn't quite sure, bul it was something \ n W i seek something that is positive, without b [narrow < mil Vs ducated men and women, we seek to clarify our faith, :: the hope thereb) to sirengthen it, I th< lual understandin oi the mil meaning oi Democracy nil but! us hav< been made not onh l»\ political scientists and states men bul also l>\ philosophers, divines, poets, men oi letters, and even I hop* I shall nol shock some oi rm rave and reverend colleagues IM ling thes< l»\ humorisl I venture to maintain th.u if we are uly U ip| i.iu the nature oi Democracy, we need a sense of humoi unfailin .is Abraham Lincoln's and Mark rwain's; and I believe il oui ability to understand and love it suffered .1 considerable loss when Will K cis dn.I Oui wa) of life is often comical; and to unci ii«l ourselves we should keep aware oi that, rhe totalitarian s take themselves with fanatical seriousness, like the inmates oi n < \ luins; |»ut thai has ne\ ei been oui wav. I.'i authentic interpretations oi Democrac) we look on the one I) ul to I lei like Cromwell, Burke, Washington, Jefferson, Hamil ton, Lincoln, and Woodrou Wilson; and on the othei to inspirers like I Imp Hooker, |ohn Milton, Rousseau, Wordsworth, Emerson, M .HI. W all W hitman, and Mark rwain, Men oi letters have I) helped to form and transmit our traditions; hence Words

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\\ c inn-1 be free 01 di(. w ho speak the tongue I hat Shato spi arc spofa . the faith and morals hold \\ huh Milton held, Mon ili.iii.isni- ..1 fact, more than insight into the pr< ent, is needed t« imprehend Democracy, Imagination is also ne< essar). and memo ,„, | o n 1 1, upon whi( h ma) rest strong faith in oui futun I , , r-i, v ., it.mi vital relationship between human beings ,, 1 j,,p whi( li originati I in an idea (01 ideal), and which has hrough n !«"' >urac oi historic al experiences Its essential (|n \ j n | ,|, ,|, , permanent . bul its manifestations, being l 1 ,i .,,<• ri< hi) varied and nevei stationar)