The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-17
DEMOCRATS PLATFORM

Continued L First Page
insist upon having absolute freedom
OF national life and policy. and feel
that they owe It to themselves and TO
the role OF spirited independence.
which II Is their sole ambition to play
that they should render themselves
secure against the hazard OF interior
ence from any quarter, and should be
able to protect their rights upon the
seas or In any part OF the world.
We therefore favor the maintenance
OF an army fully adequate TO the re-
auirements OF order, OF safety and OF
protection OF the nations rights. the
fullest development OF modern meth
DDS of seacoast defense and the main
terance Of an adequate reserve Of
citizens trained to arms and prepared
20 safeguard the people and territory
OF the United States against any dan
ger Of hostile action which may un-
expectedly arise. and a fiSed policy for
the continuous development OF a navy
worthy to support the great naval
ira additions OF the United States and
fully equal TO the international tasks
which the United States hopes and ex-
poets 10 take a part in performing
The plans and enactments OF the pres
ent Congress afford substantial proof
OF our purpose in this exigent matter.
International Relations.
Tho Democratic administration has
throughout the present war scrupu
lousy and successfully held 20 the
old paths Of neutrality and Of the
peaceful pursuit Of the legitimate OBJ
tects OF our national life, which states-
men Of all parties and creeds have
prescribed for themselves IN America
since the beginning OF our history.
But the circumstances OF the last two
years have revealed necessities OF in
ternational action which no former
generation can have foreseen. We
hold that II 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 hu-
mainly. to assist the world in securing
settled peace and Justice,
We believe that every people has
the right TO choose the Sovereignty
under which It shall live; that the
small States OF the world have a right
to enjoy from other nations the same
respect for their sovereignty and FOR
their territorial integrity that great
and powerful naions expect and In
right to he free from every disturb
ance of Its peace that has It's origin
In aggression or disregard of the
rights of peoples and nations: and
we believe that the time has come
when II ia the duty of the United
States to Join with the other nations
OF the world in any feasible asso-
citation that will effectively serve these
principles. to maintain inviolate the
complete security OF the highway of
the seas for the common and un-
hindered use of all nations.
The present administration has con-
sistently sought to act upon and real
ize in its conduct OF the foreign af-
fairs of the nation the principle that
should be the object Of any associa-
ton of the nations formed to secure
the peace of the world and the MAIN
tenance of national and individual
rights. 1t has followed the highest
American traditions. 1t has preferred
respect for the fundamental rights of
smaller States. even to property in
terests and has secured the friend
ship of the people of these States for
the United States by refusing to make
a mere material interest an excuse
for the assertion of our superior power
against the dignity of their sovereign
independence.
1t has regarded the lives of its citi-
zcns 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. 1t has made the honor and
ideals of the United States its stand
ard alike in negotiation and action.
Pan-American Concord
We recognize now, as we have al
ways recognized. a definite and COM
mon interest between the United
States with the other peoples and
republics OF the Western Hemisphere
In all matters OF national indepen-
denee and free political development.
We favox the establishment and main