Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-08

lportunity of the time is such that per-
sonal- differences, partisan bitterness
and local prejudices should be sur
rendered to serve the nations highest
good. We should not be parted by
mere names however dear, nor by
past resentments. however justified.
but we should solemnly warn all
those of an easy and accommodating
political virtue that we will not sur
render principle nor make unworthy
compromise to gain meaningless ana
selfish political victory We would
rather face possible defeat fighting
for our cause than to seek assured
victory through moral treason to those
high principles and heroic souls that
combined to make us the second party
of. this nation in 1912. The 100000
voters who followed our leader and
espoused our cause can be augmented
Ito majority perhaps more easily
under united banners, but If need be
the progressive standard Will go for
ward alone. We cannot believe that
rule or ruin faction will dominate the
political machinery of the historic
party of Lincoln and that they VIII
prefer personal defeat ana national
degradation to acceptance of the fore
most leadership of the nation. But in
this day and hour it should be made
plain that the choice is in our hands
and that the judgment of the people
will be upon our heads.
Ready TO Keep FaltlI
I'VE are ready to keep fdll and gen
erous faith with the declaration Of our
national committee in January Of the
present year. But if our faith shall
meet no response and we alone stand
ready to meet the demands upon the
patriotism Of American political lead
ership, we shall not shirk the task.
There are wrongs worse than tempo
rary defeat for great principles of hui
man justice and moral truth.
"For our part we feel that in this
solemn hour no motive Of personal
interests or party advantage will be
tolerated to thwart the awakened
conscience and intelligence of the
American people.
"The Progressives stand for Amer
icanism and preparedness. They stand
for an Americanism which is not
qualified bySSifferences in blood or
birth or cred They stand for pre-
paredness of the body and of the
spirit. industrial and social as well as
military, with universal service for
the defense of the nation.
In the midst of changing condi-
tions, unparalleled in history, we
cannot even forecast the problems
that will confront America in the
next four years. The chief issue today
is one Of leadership, the supreme
need for a man. 1t has been said that
every great movement in human af-
fairs is incarnated in living per-
sonality. This nation needs leader
in this hour whose abstract promises
have been tested by the concrete per-
formance Again, We will speak |
plainly.
"Would any disinterested patriot !
with partisan prejudice or
feeling hesitate long to name 4,
the leader best fitted to serve this /
cause? His name is ON the bps of /
the nation. Two great parties claim [
him as their own. He was our leader /
in 1912. He was the leader of the re- (
publican party for many years He :
was president of our nation for seven I
years. There is no man in America /
today who holds as he does alike the (
of the American people /
and the ungrudging respect of every +
nation in the world. He has been a I
master politician, but he has refused /
ever to play politics with the destiny +
Of his country. They want a leader /
whom they know ana who speaks
for them. They want firmness in our
foreign affairs. They want certainty
in stating ana upholding the rights of
American citizens They want cour-
age to announce program and
enacity to fight it through. There
ire millions of patriotic men and /
women strainng eyes towards Chica- +
90 and praying that the two great
parties in costention will unite upon +,
4 man to get things done They have
oeen reading speeches on prepared T
ness and notes on American rights
or dreary months only to learn at
asst that we have no rights except
hose we are able to enforce and that
We are not now prepared to enforce I,
ven the right OF an American citizen
o live within raiding distance of the