The basic source of our strength is spiritual.  For we are a people with a faith.  We believe in the dignity of man.  We believe that he was created in the image of the Father of us all.

We do not believe that men exist merely to strengthen the state or to be cogs in the economic machine.  We do believe that governments are created to serve the people and that economic systems exist to minister to their wants.  We have a profound devotion to the welfare and rights of the individual as a human being.

The faith of our people has particular meaning at this time in history because of the unsettled and changing state of the world.

The victims of war in many lands are striving to rebuild their lives, and are seeking assurance that the tragedy of war will not occur again.  Throughout the world new ideas are challenging the old.  Men of all nations are reexamining the beliefs by which they live.  Great scientific and industrial changes have released new forces which will affect the future course of civilization.

The state of our Union reflects the changing nature of the modern world.  On all sides there is heartening evidence of great energy—­of capacity for economic development-and even more important, capacity for spiritual growth.  But accompanying this great activity there are equally great questions, great anxieties, and great aspirations.  They represent the concern of an enlightened people that conditions should be so arranged as to make life more worthwhile.

We must devote ourselves to finding answers to these anxieties and aspirations.  We seek answers which will embody the moral and spiritual elements of tolerance, unselfishness, and brotherhood upon which true freedom and opportunity must rest.

As we examine the state of our Union today, we can benefit from viewing it on a basis of the accomplishments of the last decade and of our goals for the next.  How far have we come during the last 10 years and how far can we go in the next 10?

It was 10 years ago that the determination of dictators to wage war upon mankind became apparent.  The years that followed brought untold death and destruction.

We shared in the human suffering of the war, but we were fortunate enough to escape most of war’s destruction.  We were able through these 10 years to expand the productive strength of our farms and factories.

More important, however, is the fact that these years brought us new courage, new confidence in the ideals of our free democracy.  Our deep belief in freedom and justice was reinforced in the crucible of war.

On the foundations of our greatly strengthened economy and our renewed confidence in democratic values, we can continue to move forward.

There are some who look with fear and distrust upon planning for the future.  Yet our great national achievements have been attained by those with vision.  Our Union was formed, our frontiers were pushed back, and our great industries were built by men who looked ahead.