We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
PRESIDENT’ S TALK TO SCIENCE CONGRESS
looked to, all of those objectives, have been headed toward closer and more peaceful relations between all nations through the spirit of cooperation and the interchange of knowledge.
What has come about has been caused solely by those who would use, and are using, your inventions, the progress that you have been making along the lines of peace, but are using them in a wholly different cause — those who seek to dominate hundreds of millions of people in vast continental areas — those who, if successful in that aim will, we know down in our hearts, enlarge their wild dream to encompass every human being and every mile of the earth’s surface.
The great achievements of science, yes and of art, can be used to destroy as well as to create; they are only instruments by which men try to do the things that they most want to do. If death is desired, science can do that. If a full, rich, a useful life is sought, science can do that also.
Happily for us, that question has been solved — for in the New World we live for each other and in the service of a Christian faith.
Is this solution — our solution — is it permanent or safe if it is solved just for us alone? That seems to me to be the most immediate issue that the Americas face. Can we continue our peaceful construction if all the other continents in all the world embrace by preference or by compulsion a wholly different principle of life ?
No, I think not. Surely it is time for our republics to spread that problem before us in the cold light of day, to analyze it, to ask questions, to call for answers, to use every knowledge, every science that we possess, to apply common sense, and above all to act with unanimity and singleness of purpose. I am a pacifist. You, my fellow-citizens of 21 American republics, you are pacifists, too.
But I believe that by overwhelming majorities in all the Americas you and I, in the long run and if it be necessary, you and I will act together to protect, to defend by every means, to protect and defend our science, our culture, our American freedom and our civilization.
315