The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-06-11
SPEECH Of ACCEPTANCE
Of JAMES N. COX

The following is the speech of Hon.
James M. Cox in accepting the Demo.
cratic nomination of governor
Mindful, as am, of the high honor
and the vast responsibility which you
confer, accept the banner Of leader
ship, profoundly grateful for your con.
sideration, and yet diffldent almost be-
yond words, as ] realize the tremend-
Gus meaning of this great battle for
human rights.
THE courage and candor of this
convention in adopting a platform At.
ted to the necessities of the hour, give
strength and hope to a militant Dem.
ocracy because It offers to every house.
hold the means and opportunity to
place the great commonwealth Of Ohio
in the front rank Of progress. an ex.
ample to the nation and an inspiration
to the ages. This platform becomes
our sacred covenant. II will be &C.
cepted at the polls in November and
It will be carried out in letter and in
spirit after the election.
"A Democratic platform means
something to the people. A pledge
was given to them by our state admin.
istration and IL was kept. A pledge
was given to them by the Democrats in
Congress and II was kept. As aresult,
the Democracy Is cohesive organiza-
ton in principle, and enjoys the com.
mendation of the nation. Broken
promises have cast the Republican par.
ty into confusion that does small
honor to its once great leaders. BE.
reft of the plastic elements Of plunder
and privilege which the great rank
and file of Republicans could not en-.
dorse, its superstruclGre stands mere
shadow OF it's once great power and
strength, and 1t finds asset in neither
policy nor performance. It's broken
wings offer on the one hand reac.
tionary program entirely useless to a
progressive age, and as the only alter.
native, the perpetual rule of king,
run mad by lust for power. In the
changing scenes OF strife and hate, the
presidency, the gift of proud people
has fallen to depths so unfortunate as
to humiliate us before the world.
But here in Ohio. we can turn from
the pathetic scene of party perfidy and
passion. TO new order u things
cheerful, serene and happy In the
prospect Of progressive charter OF
government, that will establish genu
Inc democracy and bring new out
look on life A Democratic Legislature
and Democratic governor made posi-
BILE a non-partisan convention which
now submits amendments designed fol
the changing utilities of our constitu
ton.
II stand for a progressive charter
believing that the intelligence. the
genius, the ambition and the higher
destiny of man should not be retarded
by a plan of government shaped fOl
conditions long since passed. II oul
race IL to develop real genius fOl
government, each generation must pa,
its part In construction. This Is moi
an age for laggards. Every throb o
nature Is progressive. Even the hills
and rocks of ages, apparently a.
ha nuAInup M ha u a N Inminu
ed by the evolutions of the planet, !,
may be a restless age, but not an un
happy one. We have more schools
more churches. greater resources, ad
ded comforts. and utilities our fathers
| dreamed not of. The genius Of MAJ
has wrought great inventions. Ma
chinery has shortened the hours of Ia
Dor. Drudgery In considerable degree
has been lifted from humanity. Maj
sees more OF daylight. Man is no long
err chained to the OK He sees will
the moral vision OF added intelligence
His outlook IL higher; his perspective
broader. An agency beyond his bein'
points to better conditions of life. AM
this vision to the countless thousand
of our masses Is like water to th'
parched throat.
1T IL a time OF unrest, and VIII.
not? It's an ambitious age. The race
spurred on by the greatest civilization
In all history, perceives its opportunl
ty. rcathes through it's nostrils the at
of our free institutions, and resolve
that our government shall be he'll
rather than check to our develop
ment. That's what has taken hold o
the minds Of the people.
III, in the coming campaign. u grea
political party were to resort to tn
slogan OF a full dinner pail. II woul
be laughed to scorn, The economi
policies that viii endure were fixed b
public mandate In the peaceful resol,
/ .l..- IN Ia