Every normal American prays that neither he nor his sons nor his grandsons will be compelled to go through this horror again.

Undoubtedly a few Americans, even now, think that this Nation can end this war comfortably and then climb back into an American hole and pull the hole in after them.

But we have learned that we can never dig a hole so deep that it would be safe against predatory animals.  We have also learned that if we do not pull the fangs of the predatory animals of this world, they will multiply and grow in strength—­and they will be at our throats again once more in a short generation.

Most Americans realize more clearly than ever before that modern war equipment in the hands of aggressor Nations can bring danger overnight to our own national existence or to that of any other Nation—­or island—­or continent.

It is clear to us that if Germany and Italy and Japan—­or any one of them—­ remain armed at the end of this war, or are permitted to rearm, they will again, and inevitably, embark upon an ambitious career of world conquest.  They must be disarmed and kept disarmed, and they must abandon the philosophy, and the teaching of that philosophy, which has brought so much suffering to the world.

After the first World War we tried to achieve a formula for permanent peace, based on a magnificent idealism.  We failed.  But, by our failure, we have learned that we cannot maintain peace at this stage of human development by good intentions alone.

Today the United Nations are the mightiest military coalition in all history.  They represent an overwhelming majority of the population of the world.  Bound together in solemn agreement that they themselves will not commit acts of aggression or conquest against any of their neighbors, the United Nations can and must remain united for the maintenance of peace by preventing any attempt to rearm in Germany, in Japan, in Italy, or in any other Nation which seeks to violate the Tenth Commandment—­“Thou shalt not covet.”

There are cynics, there are skeptics who say it cannot be done.  The American people and all the freedom-loving peoples of this earth are now demanding that it must be done.  And the will of these people shall prevail.

The very philosophy of the Axis powers is based on a profound contempt for the human race.  If, in the formation of our future policy, we were guided by the same cynical contempt, then we should be surrendering to the philosophy of our enemies, and our victory would turn to defeat.

The issue of this war is the basic issue between those who believe in mankind and those who do not—­the ancient issue between those who put their faith in the people and those who put their faith in dictators and tyrants.  There have always been those who did not believe in the people, who attempted to block their forward movement across history, to force them back to servility and suffering and silence.