The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-08-09
FRIDAY. AUGUST 9, 1912.
Woodrow Wilson's
Speech of Acceptance.

The splendid presentation Of Demo-
cratic principles in Gov. Wilson's ad-
dress accepting the nomination for the
presidency, contrasts in a striking way
with the catch-penny platform Of the
so-called Progressive party, put forth
at the Chicago convention.
Roosevelt has evidently gotten the
idea that there is more or less dis
content in the country, and without
evolved a political nostrum for each of
the symptoms Of the disease. He has
noe come at a proper diagnosis of the
real ailment in the slightest measure.
His game, apparently, is to catch the
vote Of everyone who has a political
hobby, but in spite of the apparent
ultTa-radicalism of the platform it is
not calculated to brighten big business
seriously, and it certainly does not at
all touch the demand for progressive
attitude toward the problems Of the
country.
Gov. Wilson, on the other hand,
shows himself aggressive, progressive,
the America that ought to be and that
may be. He sees clearly that condi-
tons are not as they ought to be, and
he sees that these conditions cannot be
improved by merely destructive poll
cies. There must be construction. He
gives an absolutely true picture of the
real democracy, and pledges himself
and his party to their most unselfish
endeavor to bring conditions into har-
mony with that conception.
His address is the announcement of
man who is more than politician,
more than a seeker after votes, more
than the promuIgator Of a platform.
He seeks to be a servant of the public
and makes clear that he knows what
that term means. He promises in all
evident sincerity, and without any at
tempt to hide his meaning under a
clap trap array of meaningless phrases,
to be the servant of all the people in
working out the statesmanlike progress
of constructive achievement which he
outlines.
The following brief excerpts from
Mr.. Wilson's address-an address
which should be read by every Ameri-
can citizen-indicat the mastery grip
which the Democratic nominee has of
the situation, and the clear conception
which he has Of the constructive
policy which must be followed in
meeting it.:
we must speak not to catch votes,
but to satisfy the thought and con-
science of a people deeply stirred by
the conviction that they have come to
a critical point in their moral and po-
litical development.
Tt requires self restraint not to at
tempt too much and yet it would be
cowardly to attempt too little.
There are two great things to do
One is to set up the rule of justice
and Of right in such matters as the
tariff. The other is the task of pro-
tecting our resources. In this we face
questions Of conservation and develop
ment.
The tariff question as dealt with in
our times has not been business. II
has been politics.
The working people of America are
OF course, the backbone of the nation
No law that safeguards life. that
makes their hours Of labor rationa,
and tolerable, can properly be regard.
ed as class legislation.
We are not the owners Of the
Philippine islands, we hold the1a il
trust for the people who live in them
we have been a spendthrift natior
and must now husband what we have
left We must develop, as we'll as pre-
serve our water powers and must add
great waterways to the transportation
facilities Of the nation.
we must revive our merchant ma
rine and fill the seas again with GU,
own fleets,
we must add to our present post
Office a parcels post as complete a
that of any other nation.
We are not building the Panam;
canal merely to establish a water con
nection between the two coasts Of tn,
continent. 1t is meant to be a grea
international highway. We must bull,
and buy ships to send through it il
competition with the world We cal
90 It if we will but give ourselve,
leave.
There is another duty which tn,
Democratic party has shown itsel
great enough and close enough to tn,
people to perceive, the duty of tn,
government to share in promoting
agricultural, industrial, vocational edu
cation in every way possible within
its constitutional powers"