11
world away from its false philosophy and
help it to build Its hope of permanent peace
on the foundation of love and brotherhood
and co-operation.
If this is to be the task of this nation,
what party Is more (It to perform the task
than the party that preaches the brother
hood of man as next in importance to the
fatherhood of Uod ?
1 as a lover of my country, want my
country to win this greatest of all prlies.
As a Democrat, I want my party to have
the honor that will come with the accom
plishment of such a task. As a lover of
my country and as a Democrat I Join you
In the endeavor to give to Woodrow Wil
son the opportunity to perform this task
for the nation and the world.
strument In protecting thcilr rffchts and
guardinK thoir Interests. When the day
comes fur the world's peace to hn restored
and for the treaties to be written that will
Euuil against future wars, what adminis
tration is more worthy of the honor than
the administration that has given to three
quarters of the world a treaty plan that
makes war a remote possibility between us
and nearly all the principal nations of the
earth ?
I believe that there Is now before this
country an opportunity such as no other
country has ever had since the beginning
of time. I believe that God, In His provi
dence, has reserved for the United Stales
tiie honor and the task of lifting the moral
codo that governs individuals up to the
level of nations and making it a part of the
code of all governments.
There is a picture that has attracted at
tention wherever it has been exhibited the
picture of Christ before I'ilate. I'ilata rep
resented the power of the Koman govern
ment, and back of him were the legions of
Koine. Before Pilate, helpless, unarmed,
stood the Apostle of Love. Force tri
umphed; they naiiod him to the tree, and
those who stood around mocked and Jeered
and said, "He Is dead!" But that, instead of
being the end, was only the beginning. In
a few centuries the power of Caesar was
gone and his legions forgotten; but the
power of Clfrlat, Increased until hun
dreds, yes, thousands of millions have taken
His name with reverence upon their lips;
millions have been ready to die rather than
surrender the faith He put into their heart.
He has become tho great fact of history,
iho-irrowinir flKiire of all time. Today Christ
Land I'ilate again stand face to face Korce
and lAve are again striving mi ,
and dominion. The old world represents
force. It built its hope of peace on fear
and threats of violence. Each nation at
tempted to terrorise other nations into
peace, and in their offoru they engendered
hatreds that ended in war.
If lhe nations now at war had spent one
tenth as much trying to cultivate friend
ship as they have spent in cultivating hat
red, there would be no war In Europe today.
If 1 understand this nation's opportunity
and this nation's task, it is to lead the
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PLATFORM
Full Text of tte Declaration of Principles Adopted ly tke Democratic National Convention at St. Louis, June 16.1916
Following la tlie tost of tho platform
adopted by tho Democratic National Con
vention, St. I mills, on Juno JOlli:
Tho Democratic party, in national con
vention assembled, adopts tho following dec
laration to the end that the people of the
United States may both realize the achieve
ments wrought hy four years of Democratic
administration and be apprised of the pol
icies to which the party is committed for
the further conduct of national affairs.
KKCORD OF ACHIKVK.MKNT.
Wo rn dorse the administration of Presi
de!?! Woodrow Wilson. It speaks for itself.
It Is the best exposition of sound D-'mo-cnilic
policy at home and abroad.
We challenge comparison of our rec
ord, our keeping of pledges and our con
structive legislation with those of any party
of any time.
Wo found our country hampered by spe
cial privilege, a vicious tarifT, obsolete
banking laws, and an inelastic currency.
Our foreign sffairs ware dominated by com
mercial Interests for their selfish ends. vThe
Kepuhlican party, despite repeated pledges,
was Impotent to correct abuses whiah it had
fosterrd. Under our administration, under
a leadership which has nevor faltered, these
abuses have been corrected, and our pocple
have been freed therefrom.
Our archaic banking and currency sys
tem, prolific of panic and disasl?r under
Keptfhlicau administration long the refuge
of the money trust has been supplanted by
the federal reserve act, a truo democritcy of
credit under government control, already
proved a financial bulwark In a world crisis,
mobilizing our resources, placing abundant
credit at tho disposal of legitimate industry,
and milking a currency pnnlc impossible.
We havo cren t ed a federal t ra d e com -mission
to , accommodate the perplexing
question arising under the anti-trust laws
so that monopoly may be strangled at its
birth and legitimate industry encouraged.
Fair competition In business is now assured.
We have effected an adjustment of th?
tariff, adPouate for revenue under peace
conditions, and fair to tho consumer and to
the producer. We have adjusted the bur
dens of taxation so that swollen Ineomos
bear their equitable share. Our . revenues
have been sufficient in times of world stress
ant; will largely exceed the expenditures for
he current tisoal year.
We have lifted human labor from the
cntegotof commodities and have secured
to tho working man the right of volun
' tary association for lds protection and wel
fare. Wo have protected tho rights of the
laborer against the unwarranted issuance of
writs of injunction, and have guaranteed to
him the right of trial by Jury in cases of
alleged contempt -committed outside the
presence of the court.
Wo have advanced the parcel post to
genuine efficiency, enlarged the postal sav
ings system, added 10.000 rural delivery
routes and extensions, thus reaching 2.500.
000 additional people. Improved the postal
service in every branch, and for the first
time In our history, placed the post office
system on a self-supporting basis, with act
ual surplus in 1913. 1914 and 1916.
KCONOMIC nti:i;i)OM.
The reforms which were most obviously
needed to clear away privilege, prevent un
fair discrimination, and release the energies
of men of all ranks and advantages, have
been effected by recent legislation. We
must now remove, so far as possible, every
remaining element of unrest and uncertainly
from the path of the business men of Am-
eriea, nd secure for them a continued per
iod of quiet, assured and confident pros
perity. TARII'V.
We reaffirm our belief In the dool rim
Of a tariff for the purpose of providing
sufficient revenue for the operation of the
gov eminent economically administered and
unreservedly indorse the Underwood tariff
law as truly exemp'ifving that doctrine.
"We recognise that tariff rates nre necesss : ilv
subject to change to meet rhjigi-cg condi
tions in the world' producing i, id trade.
The events of the last I wo yeirs have
brought about many momentous changes.
In some respects their effects are yet con
jectural and wait to be disclosed, particular
ly In regard to our foreign trade.
Two years of a war which ha directly
Involved most oL the chief industrial n.t-tl-irs
of the world, and which has indi
rectly affected the life and industry of all
nations, arc bringing about economic chang
es more varied and far-reaching (than the
world has ever before experienced. In or
der to ascertain Just what to J.e changes
may be, the lenm!ratic Congress 1h pro
viding for a non-imrtUun tariff commission
to make impartial and thorough study of
every economic fact that may throw light
either upon our past or upon our future
fiscal policy with regard to the imposition
of taxes on Imports or with regard to the
chinged and changing conditions under
which our trade is carried on.
We cordially Indowe this timely pro
posal and declare ourselves In sympathy
with the principle and purpose of shaping
legislation within that Held In accordance
with the demands of selfish interest or upon
information provided largely, if . not ex
clusively, by them. , ,
AMKRICANISM.
The part that the United States will play
In the new day of International relation
ships which Is now upon us will depend
upon our preparation and our character.
The Democratic party, therefore, recog
nizes the assertion and triumphant demon
stration of the indivisibility and ' coherent
strength of the nation as the supreme issue
of this day in which the whole world faoes
the crisis of manifold change, it sum
mons ail men, of whatever origin or creed,
who" "would count themselves Americans to
join in making clear to all the world tho
unity -and consequent power of America.
This is an issue of patriotism. To taint
It with partisanship would be to defile it.
In this day of test America must show
itself, not a nation of partisans, but a na
tion of patriots. There is gathered here
in America the best of the blood, the in
dustiy and the genius of the whole world,
the elements of a great race and a mag
nificent society to be melted Into a mighty
anil splendid nation.
Whoever, actuated by the purpose to
promote the Interests of a foreign power,
in disregard of our own country's welfare.
ir to injure Huh government in its for
len relations or cripple or destroy Its in
dustries at home, and whoever, by arousing
prejudices of a racial, religious .W .other
nature, creates discord uml strife among our
fcuplo so as to obstruct the wholesome
process of iiniflriitlon. is fuit bless to the
trust which the privileges of citizenship- re
pose In him and disloyal to his country.
t Wo t her 'fore condemn as subversive of
tills nation's unity and integrity and as des
tructive of Its welfare the activities uml do
signs of every group or organisation, poli
tical or otherwlse.-thut has for its object
the advancement of the interests of a lor
oJgii power, whether such object is prompt
ed by Intimidating the government, a ihiIh
Ical party or representatives of the people,
or which Is calculated and tends to divide
our people into antagonistic, groups, and
thus fo destroy that complete agreement and
solidarity of the people, and that unity of
sentiment and national purpose so essen
tial to the pcriH'tufty of the tuition and its
free Institutions.
We condemn nil alliances and combl
nnitons of Individ tints In 11 1 is country of
whatever nationality or dejweut, who agree
to conspire logetlier for tlie purpose of em
barrassing or weakening our Rovcnimcnt or
of improperly iutluci icing or coercing our
public rcprcsctittitiPrt in dealing or, negoti
ating with any foreign ower. We charge
that such conspiracies among a limited
nunilMY exist and havo Ih-cu Instigated for
I Ik purpose of advancing ttio interests of
I eign countries, to the prejudice and det
riment of our own country. Wc condemn
any itolltic.nl party whicli, in view of the
activity of such ionspirators, surrenders its
Integrity or modifies its policy.
iui:rAiti:iNKsa.
Along with the proof of our character
as a nation must go the proof of our power
to. play the part that legitimately belongs
to us. -The people of the United States
love peace. They respect the rights and
covet the friendship of all other nations.
They desire neither nny additional territory
nor any advantage which cannot be peace
fully gained by their skill, their industry, or
their enterprise; but they insist' upon hav
Imr absolute freedom of national llfp and
policy, and feel that they, nwo it to them
selves and to the role of spirited inde
pendence which it is their sole ambition to
play that they should render themselves
secure against the hazard of interference
from any quarter, and should be able to pro
tei their nlit s upon the seas or in any
part of the world.
We. therefore, favor th? maintenance of
,m army fully adequate to the requirements
of order, of i:if"'.y. and of the protection "of
the- nation's rights, the fullest development
of mod.-rn methods of sea coast defense and
the maintenance of an adequate reserve of
citirens Cr.iine t to arms and prepared to
safeguard the people and territory of the
United State against any danger of hOHtile
action which may unexpectedly arise; and a
fixed policy for the continuous develop
ment of a navy worthy to support the great
naval traditions of the United States and
fully equal to the international tasks which
the United States hopes and expects to
take a part in performing. The plans and
enactments of the present Congress afford
substantial proof of our purpose in this
exigent matter.
INTKRNATIONAli UKIjATIONS.
Th nn.ocratle administration
throughout the present war scrupulously
and successfully h?ld to the old paths of
the leeitlmate oblec's of our national life
wihich statesmen or ail parties ana creeua
have prescribed for themselves in America
since the beginning of our history. Hut the
circumstances of the last two years nave
revealed necessities of international action
which no former generation can havo fore
seen. We hold that It is the duty of the
United States to use Its power, not only
to make itself safe at home, but also to
make secure its just interests throughout the
world, and, both for this end and in the
Interest of humanity, tb assist the world In
securing settlod peace and justice.
We believe that every people has the
right to choose the sovereignty under which
it shall live, that tho small Stales of the
world have a right to enjoy from othor
nations the same respect for their sovereign
ty and for their territorial integrity that
great and powerful nations expect and in
sist upon: and that the world has a right
to be free from every disturbance of its
peace that has its origin in aggression or
disregard of the rights of peoples and na
tions; and we' believe that the time has
come when it is the miiy or me imuu-u
States to join with tihe other nations of the
world In any feasible association that will ,
effectively serve these principles, to main- i
tain inviolate the complete security of the
highway of the seas for the common and
unhindered use of all nations.
The present administration has consistent
ly sought to act upon and realize in Us
conduct of the foreign affairs of the nation
the principle that should be the object of
any association of the nations formed to
secure the peace of the world and the main
tenance of national and individual rights.
It has followed the highest American tradi
tions. It has preferred respect for the
fundamental rights of smaller States even
to property interests, and has secured the
triendsnip or ine people oi uiese niaies ir
the United States by refusing to make a
more material interest an excuse for the
assertion of our superior power against the
dignity of their sovereign independence.
It has regarded the lives of its citizens
and the claims of humanity -as of greater
moment than material rights, and peace as
the best basis for" the just settlement of
commercial claims. It has made t.he honor
and ideals of the United States its stand
ard alike in negotiation and action
marauders and bandit bands, who have not
only takeo the lives and seized and de
stroyed the property of American citizens In
that country, out have insoienuy invaoeu
our soil, made war upon and murdered our
people thereon, has rendered it necessary
temporarily to occupy, oy our armeu irrn,
a portion of the territory of that friendly
Stte. Until by the restoration of law and '
order therein, a repetition of such Incur
sions is Improbable, the necessity for their.
remaining will continue.
Intervention, implying as It does, mill
tnrv sublimation, is. revolting to the people
hasL-nf the United Slates, notwithstanding the
provocation to that course has been great,
and should be resorted to, if at all. only
as a last Hesort. .. The stubborn resistance
of the Presldent-and his advisers to every
demand and uggestion to enter upon it. i3
creditable alike to them and to the peoplo
in whose name he speaks.
IWV-AMKRlCAPi tONCOltD.
Wo recognize now, as we have always rec
ognized, a definite and common interest be
tween the United States with the other
peoples and republics of the Western Hem
isphere in all matters of national independ
ence and free political development. We
favor the 'establishment and maintenance
of the closest relations of amity and mutual
helpfulness between the united States and
the other re pi. lies of the American conti
nent for the shpport of peace and the pro
motion of a common prosperity.
To that end we favor all measures which
are necessary to facilitate Intimato in
tercourse and promote commerce between
the United States and her neighbors to the
South of us, and such international under
standings as may be practicable and suitable
to accomplish these ends.
We commend the action of the Demo-!
eratlc administration In holding the pan-1
American financial conference at Washing-,
ton In May,' 1915, and organizing the Inter
national high commlslon which represented
the United States In the recent meeting of
representatives of the Latin-American re
publics at Huenos Aires. April, 1916, which
have so greatly promoted the friendiv re
lations between the people of the Western
Hemisphere,
mi: xi CO.
The Monroedoctrine Is reasserted as a
principle of Democratic faith. That doctrine
guarantees the Independent republics of the
two Americas against aggression from an
other continent. It Imolies. as well, t.h
most scrupulous regard upon our part for
the sovereignty of each of them. The want
of a stable, responsible government In Mex
ico, capable of repressing and punishing
MERCHANT MARINE.
Immediate provision should be mado rot
tho development of the carrying trade of
the United States. Our foreign commerce
has In t-he past been subject to many un
necessary and vexatious obstacles In Con
gress. Until the recent. Democratic tariff
legislation It was hampered by unreason
able burdens of taxation.
Until the recent banking legislation It
had at its disposal few of the necessary
instrumentalities of international credit and
exchange. Until tho formulation of the
pending act to promote the construction of
a merchant marine, it lacked even the
prospect of adequate carriage by sea.
We heartily indorse the purposes and pol-
Icy of the pending shipping bill, and favor
all such additional measures of constructive
or remedial legislation as may be neces
sary to restore our tlag to the seas ami
then provide further facilities for our ior
eign commerce, particularly; such laws as
may be made to remove unfair conditions
of competition In the dealings of American
merchants and producers with competitions
in foreign markets.
CONSKKVATIOV.
For the safeguarding, and quickening of
the life of our own people, we favor the
conservation and development of the natural
resources of the country through a policy
which shall he positive rather than negative
a policy which shall not withhold such
resources from development, but which,
while permitting and encouraging their use,
shall prevent both waste and monopoly in
their exp.oitatton, and we earnestly favor
the passage of ctH which will accomplish
these objects, nnd we reaffirm the declara-,
tion of the platform of 1912 on this subject.
The policy of reclaiming! our arid lands
should be steadily adhered to.
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THIS
FARMKR.
We favor tho vigorous prosecution of in
vestigations and plans to render agricul
ture more profitable and country life more
healthful, comfortable and attractive, and
we believe that this should be a domin
ant aim of the nation as well as of the
States. With all its recent improvements,
farming still lags behind other occupations
In develonment as a business, and the ad
vantages of an advancing civilization have
not accrued to rural communities In a fair
proportion.
Much has been accomplished in this
field under tho present administration far
more than under any previous administra
tion. In the federal reserve act of the last
Congress and the rural credits act of the
present Congress the machinery has been
created which will make credit availablo
to the farmer constantly and readily, and
he has at last been put upon a footing of
equal;ty with the merchant nnd the manu
facturer In secuning the capital necessary to
carry on his enterprises.
tirades and standards necessary to mo
intelligent and successful conduct of lhe
business of agriculture have also been es
tablished, or ar? in the course of being es
tablished by law. The long-needed cotton
futures act, passed by the Sixty-Third Con
gress, has now been In successful operation
for nearly two years., A grain grades bill,
long needed, and a permissive warehouse
bill, intended to provide better storage
facilities nnd to enable the farmer to ob
tain certificates upon which he may secure
advances of money, have been passed by the
House of Kepresentatives, have been fa
vorably reported to the Senate, and will
probably become law during the present
session of Con geeks'"
lloth Houses have passed a good roaf
measure which will be of far-reaching ben
efit to all agricultural communities.