Conciliation - A New Factor in the South's Progress - Page 2

Speech on the need for conciliation-2- struggle for economic justice, political righteousness, and racial harmony. This will promote right relations with the North and aid the resurgence of patriotism for which all thoughtful persons yearn. For the people of the North, whatever their failings in the past, do not despise us, nor are they longer defining the race problem in terms of Southern intransigence. It was become a national problem with sharp regional differences, but a challenge to all of us. I doubt that we can preserve our most cherished values if we fall out among ourselves and permit a mishandling of the racial crisis. Christian education is one key to this basic and foremost problem of our country. The minister and the teacher are instruments of moral power to promote racial justice. Legislative craftsmanship for immediate needs is essential but the importance of moral exertion is apparent. It must have fresh impetus and must be based upon an appreciation of human dignity and a determination to achieve equal opportunity for all. If all of the demands of the racial minority were embodied into Federal statutes, there would remain the urgent need for activity by men and women of good will in both races to work at the local level for the promotion of these ideals. Conciliation is a vital feature in President Kennedy’s program; for the stronger legislative props for human rights requested by him will still leave large areas which only moral force can achieve genuine progress