I HAVE DIFFICULTY IN RESTRAINING MY INDIGNATION

Smarting under attacks that he had let the U.S. become "second best," Dwight Eisenhower stepped forward at the Republican Convention with a withering counterfire and the best political speech of his administration. Excerpts:

TO this convention I bring no words of despair or doubt about my country--no doleful prediction of impending disaster. Whoever misleads by calculated use of some but not all the facts, whoever distorts the truth to serve selfish ambition, whoever asserts weakness where strength exists--makes a mockery of the democratic process and misrepresents our beloved country in the eyes of the watching world.

The irrefutable truths are that the United States is enjoying an unprecedented prosperity; that it has, in cooperation with its friends and allies, the strongest security system in the world, and that it is working ceaselessly and effectively for a peace with justice, in freedom.

Our own mounting living standards, and the history of these Republican years, provide the proof that these are facts.

The Economy

There are more Americans today employed, at higher wages and with more take-home pay, than ever before in our history. They have more confidence in the stability of their money than they have enjoyed in three decades.

In these past seven and a half years, the annual gross national product has increased by $100 billion or 25%. This figure, though stupendous, is asserted by some to be unnecessarily low. But what would they say if they knew that during the almost eight-year duration of the prior Democratic Administration, the gross national product actually declined in every single peacetime year, save one.

During all the years of this Administration, I've heard much from the opposition, especially from its free-spending clique, about increasing the rate of economic growth by depending principally on governmental activity, with vastly increased federal expenditures.

We reject the argument that healthy growth can thus be bought from the funds of the federal treasury.

We believe profoundly that constant and unnecessary governmental meddling in our economy leads to a standardized, weakened and tasteless society that encourages dull mediocrity, whereas private enterprise, dependent upon the vigor of healthful competition, leads to individual responsibility, pride of accomplishment and, above all, national strength.

Inflation--the most insidious and cruel form of taxation ever devised--drove prices up 48% in the previous Administration, thus robbing millions of our people of savings and of purchasing power.

In the last seven and a half years we have succeeded in keeping the total price rise below 11%. And, at least this is my fixed opinion, this record could have been even better if I might have had the privilege of working all these years with a Republican Congress.

Security

In the sum of our capabilities we have become the strongest military power on earth. But just as the Biblical Job had his boils, we have a cult of professional pessimists who, taking counsel of their fears, continually mouth the allegation that America has become a second-rate military power. This extraordinary assertion amazes our friends in the world who know better; it even bewilders many of our own people who have examined our 7 1/2-year record of military expansion and who are not used to hearing their gigantic defense efforts so belittled.

Defense expenditures during the twelve months preceding the outbreak of the Korean War were less than 12 billion. Today we are spending, after seven years without hostilities, over three times that much, more than $41 billion annually, on a powerful, flexible and adequate defense establishment, which commands world-wide respect.

The United States today possesses a military establishment of incalculable power. Combined with the strength of our NATO, SEATO and other allies, the free world is prepared to meet any threat and, by its retaliatory strength, to face any potential aggressor with a mighty deterrent.

All this--all this--has been brought about by vigorous and imaginative leadership, the genius of our scientists, the skill of our armed forces, and by the sacrifices of the American people. To belittle this might, and the prestige, pride and capabilities of these groups does such violence to my sense of what is right that I have difficulty in restraining my feelings of indignation.

If we can be blessed with experienced and steady leadership in Washington, the possibility of the outbreak of future war will be minimized and we can eventually win the peace.

The World

In the pursuit of world peace, I have personally journeyed more than 90,000 miles during the past year and visited the people of more than a score of nations on four continents. I have heard the insistent demands of multitudes for the right to live their lives in peace, and I have seen and taken part in many impressive American initiatives directed toward this crucial goal. The United States has made proposal after proposal, each in good faith, in an effort to reduce tension in the world and to lessen the economic burden of armaments. Moreover, we are prepared always to consider any reasonable proposal made by others.

Only a few months ago the men in the Kremlin were calling for complete and total disarmament. But suddenly thereafter, they began devising one crisis after another.

They brutally wrecked the summit conference.

They have threatened us with missiles.

And today, they cold-bloodedly boast of shooting down one of our planes legitimately traveling over intercontinental waters.

The Soviet dictator has said that he has, in his recent journeys and speeches, succeeded in damaging the prestige of America.

Now, this is indeed an empty boast.

Concerning this matter of comparative national prestige, I challenge him to this test: Will he agree to the holding of free elections under the sponsorship of the United Nations to permit people everywhere in every nation on every continent to vote on one single simple issue?

And that issue is: Do you want to live under a Communist regime or under a free system such as is found in the United States?

My friends, are the Soviets willing to measure their world prestige by the results of such elections? Well, you know the answer to that.

But the United States would gladly do so.

The Party

I profoundly believe that Republican policies and Republican leaders provide us with our best opportunity to carry our tasks to completion.

The people expect and demand honesty, integrity and moral courage from the men and women who bear public responsibilities. They know that political office should be, and demand it be, a position of trust and honor; qualification for it must comprehend more than mere personal ambition. They realize, as never before, that the stakes in today's world are too high to risk their futures to the hands of frivolous, irresponsible or inexperienced government.

In the successes of the past seven and a half years you have a solid foundation on which to build toward new levels of attainment.

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