The Van Buren press., 1912-08-17

ships that Will go the routes they
! want thief TO go-and prefer the inter
| ests Of America In their sailing otuei
| and their equipment our 9o!h "a
/ markets no longer suffice. We neel
| foreign markets That is another force
| that IS going 10 break the teriff down.
| The tariff was once o bulwark; now IL
/ g a dam For trade Is reciprocal; We
! cannot sell unless We also BUY
| The very fact that We have az Iast
/ taken the Panama Canal seriously IN
| hand and are vigorously pushing II to-
ward completion is eloquent OF our re-
! awakened interest in International trau"'
| We are not building the canal and pour
| ing out millions upon millions Of moneT
upon its construction merely TO estao-
| lish a water connection between the two
| coasts OF the continent, important ahu
desirable as that may be. particularly
from the point Of view OF naval detense'
| IL is meant to be a great national high-
| way 1t would be a little ridiculous II
| we should build IL and then have no
| ships TO send through H.
There is another DUTY whicn the
Democratic party has shown Itself great
| enough and close enough to the people
| 10 perceive, the duty of government 10
share In promoting agricultural, lnuus-
trial. vocational education IN every way
/ possible within its constitutional powers.
| No other platform has given this ini-
mate vision of a partys duty The ma
| tiOn cannot enjoy its deserved suprem.
| acy In the markets and enterprises OF
the world unless its people are given
the ease and effectiveness that comes
only with knowledge and training. Edu-
cation is part Of the great task Of con-
servatiou. part Of the task Of renewal
and of perfected power.
A presidential campaign may easily
deEenera te into a mere personal contest
and so lose It's real dignity and Signlfl-
canoe There is no Indispensable man.
The government will not collapse ana
go to pieces II any one or the gente-
men who are seeking TO be entrusted
with its guidance should be left at home
But men are instruments. We are as
| important as the cause we represent.
and I'm order 20 be important must real
ly represent cause. what is our
cause2 The peoples cause? That IS
easy 10 say. but what does il mean? The
common as against any particular IN
terest whatever? Yes but that too
needs translation into acts and policies,
We represent the desire 10 set mp an
uuentangled government that can not be
used for private purposes, either IN the
field of business or in the field Of poll
tics, a government that will not tolerate
the use of the organization or great
party to serve individual aims and ambl-
ton Of arv individual and that will not
permit legislation to employed to FUR
ther any private interest. 1t is great
conception, but I am free 70 serve H. as
you also are. I could not have accepted
any man or any group Of men No man
can be Just who is not free, and no man
who has to show favors ought TO under
take the solemn responsibility or govern
ment in any rank or post whatever,
least Of all in the supreme post Of presi-
dent of the United States
To be free is not necessarily to be
wise But wisdom comes with counsel
with the frank and free conference Of
untrammeled men united in the COM
mon interest. Should I be entrusted
with the great office of president |
would seek counsel wherever IL could
be had upon free terms | know the
temper Of the great convention which
nominated me; I know the temper Of
the country that lay back Of that con-
veution and spoke through t. I heed
with deep thankfulness the message you
bring me from it, ! feel that ! am sur
rounded by men whose principles and
ambitions are those Of true servants Of
the people. I thank God and take cour
age,