Remarks at the announcement of the Brooks Hays Memorial Fund

              Immediately after the 1958 election, Brooks' friends
held a testimonial dinner, brooks gave a speech which 
revealed the basic philosophy of government that guided 
him throughout his life:
While I honor the office of representative, I am
convinced that under the circumstances the loss of my seat
in Congress is not too big a price to pay.
Is there a standard to which the just and prudent may 
repair? There is.  First, it seems to me, is an appreciation 
of what rule of law means in sustaining our liberties and 
our property. The point does not need laboring, but the
times do call for reminders that the constitution provides 
a method for change and that until changed, unpopular as 
well as popular laws must be respected.  Odium does not 
attach to lawful protests against statutes or decisions.                                                   
Defiance is another matter.
Secondly, we must have a firm commitment to the 
democratic tradition as expressed in our procedures and institutions.  Our public school system must be preserved. 
Without it the freedom that flowers from an educated
citizenry would perish. James Madison put it succinctly: