But it does mean the full right to liberty and equality before the law without distinction of race or creed.  This condition can not be granted to others, or enjoyed by ourselves, except by the application of the principle of broadest tolerance.  Bigotry is only another name for slavery.  It reduces to serfdom not only those against whom it is directed, but also those who seek to apply it.  An enlarged freedom can only be secured by the application of the golden rule.  No other utterance ever presented such a practical rule of life.

CONCLUSION

It is apparent that we are reaching into an era of great general prosperity.  It will continue only so long as we shall use it properly.  After all, there is but a fixed quantity of wealth in this country at any fixed time.  The only way that we can all secure more of it is to create more.  The element of time enters into production, If the people have sufficient moderation and contentment to be willing to improve their condition by the process of enlarging production, eliminating waste, and distributing equitably, a prosperity almost without limit lies before its.  If the people are to be dominated by selfishness, seeking immediate riches by nonproductive speculation and by wasteful quarreling over the returns from industry, they will be confronted by the inevitable results of depression and privation.  If they will continue industrious and thrifty, contented with fair wages and moderate profits, and the returns which accrue from the development of oar natural resources, our prosperity will extend itself indefinitely.

In all your deliberations you should remember that the purpose of legislation is to translate principles into action.  It is an effort to have our country be better by doing better.  Because the thoughts and ways of people are firmly fixed and not easily changed, the field within which immediate improvement can be secured is very narrow.  Legislation can provide opportunity.  Whether it is taken advantage of or not depends upon the people themselves.  The Government of the United States has been created by the people.  It is solely responsible to them.  It will be most successful if it is conducted solely for their benefit.  All its efforts would be of little avail unless they brought more justice, more enlightenment, more happiness and prosperity into the home.  This means an opportunity to observe religion, secure education, and earn a living under a reign of law and order.  It is the growth and improvement of the material and spiritual life of the Nation.  We shall not be able to gain these ends merely by our own action.  If they come at all, it will be because we have been willing to work in harmony with the abiding purpose of a Divine Providence.

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State of the Union Address
Calvin Coolidge
December 7, 1926

Members of the Congress: