H.I.M words concerning government
``When a whole nation accepts and maintains a
government in existence, it means that the nation recognizes that
government.There is always something moving, brewing. There are ambitious people
everywhere. Wicked
people.The only thing to do is to deal with them with courage and decision.One
must beware of uncertainty, weakness or conflicting emotions - they lead to
defeat.
It is our opinion that the world has not changed at all. We believe that such
changes have modified nothing. We don't even notice any difference between
monarchies and republics: to us,they appear two substantially similar methods of
governing a nation.
Democracy, Republic:
What do these words signify?What have they changed in the world?Have men become
better, more loyal, kinder?
Are the people happier?All goes on as before, as always.Illusions, illusions.
One should consider the interests of a nation before subverting it with words.
Democracy is necessary in some cases and we believe some African peoples might
adopt it. But in other cases
it is a handful, a mistake.We are all adherent, whatever our internal political
systems, of the principles
of democratic action. Let us apply these to the unity we seek to create.
Force must be used against force.We ourselves, by virtue of our descent from the
Queen of Sheba and King Solomon, ever since we accepted in trust, in 1916, first
the regency of the Ethiopian realm and later, the Imperial
Dignity, right up to the present, we have set out to the best of our ability, to
improve,gradually, internal administration by introducing into the country
western modes of civilization through which our people may attain a higher
level.
In explanation of the notion 'gradually': unless it is through coaxing a child
and getting it accustomed, it will not be pleased if one takes from it what it
has seized with its hand. When one gives such a baby any sort of food, it will
not wish to eat it, unless one shows it to the child and lets it taste it.
Unless they give it milk or other soft food until it grows teeth, it will not be
able to eat when they place bread or meat before them.
And similarly with people who have lived by custom only, without learning at
school, without absorbing knowledge by the ear or observing and searching with
the eye, it is necessary to accustom them, through educations to abandon habits
by which they have for long been living,to make them accept new ways. yet not by
hasty or cruel methods but by patience and study.gradually and over a prolonged
period.
Only a system which tolerates dissent can survive
It gives us great pleasure to appear before this distinguished assemblage and we
bring you the fraternal salutations of the Ethiopian people.The people of
Ethiopia and Trinidad and Tobago are joined in a massive and
continuous effort tocreate for themselves a new and better way of life. They
face many of the same problems.
The hopes and aspirations which they share derive from the same essential
beliefs in the natureand destiny of man. It is thus inevitably true that there
should exist between those two great peoples strong and lasting ties of
friendship and understanding
Your role as the representatives of the people is a particularly critical one in
the councils of the twentieth century. The manner in which a representative of
the people should properly discharge his responsibilities has long been a matter
for learned discussion among philosophers and political scientists.
The world of the developing nations is creating new problems for the scholars to
ponder as new societies are emerging to deal with the intricate and explosive
questions of national and institutional development.
Is a representative responsible only to a constituency or to the particular
group or interest which has chosen or appointed him? Certainly this
responsibility Must be an element in the thought and action of such a man, but
there are higher values and greater interests and responsibilities than these.
Obstacles
Sectional, tribal and other divisive factors often pose major obstacles to
national development. In their expanded sense, as narrowly national and
ideological interests, they threaten unity and progress.
No one is today so foolish as to believe thay any one nation constitutes a
perfect monolith of faith and ideology. Nor could anyone wish that there should
be such utter vanity of thought and aspiration.
The systems of Government which have sought to impose uniformity of belief have
survived briefly and then expired, blinded and weakened by obsessive reliance
upon their supposed infallibility. The only system of Government which can
survive is one which is prepared to tolerate dissent and criticism and Which
accepts these as useful and in any case, inevitableaspects of all social and
political relations.
The tolerance of dissent and criticism within a Government proceeds from a
single essential premise: that the Government exists to serve the people
generally. Government servants, whether designated as representatives or not,
have a trust to work for the general welfare.
The same trust exists among the member states of international organizations.
The members of such organizations must adhere to some tacit or expressed
conception of international welfare.
Common Goals
In the case of the Organization of African Unity, it is an African Unity, it is
an African welfare; in the case of the United Nations Organization, it is world
welfare.In one way or another, the member nation must accept in thought, spirit
and action the basic premise of their institutions that men of all races,
beliefs and status share some essential common goals.From this premise, no great
and easy actions follow as corollaries. The representatives of
peoples and nations can only come together with open and objective minds and
willing hearts to engage in dialogue, without rigid dogmas and slogans and
without violence.
Working in this way achieves no instant Utopia. It may, however, enable us to
achieve together what it is possible to achieve and to move forward steadily, if
not always in great haste, with some degree of harmony and mutual understanding.
Domestically, we can build strong and happy and resourceful societies.
internationally, we can force the end of oppression of man by man and nation by
nation. We can bring about the security and mutual trust which will open the way
to the greater human achievements for which the needs of mankind now cry out.
(He concluded:)
Permit me to express my heartfelt gratitude for the reception accorded me by the
people and Government of Trinidad and Tobago.``
Selassie I Speeches