Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-03
President Wilson S Acceptance Speech

LONG BRANCH. n. j., September e.
In replying to the speech OF Senator
OIi!e James. notifying him of his nomi-
nation for the presidency by the demo
cratic national convention, Presiden;
Wilson said:
Senator Japies. gentlemen OF the n0ti.
d fication committee. fellow citizens: l can
no; accept the leadership and response
billty which the national democratic con-
ver.tion has again in such generous fash
ion. asked ME to accept without hrst
expressing my profound gratitude to the
party for the trust it reposes in me after
- fou. wears OF fiery trial in the MIDST OF
affairs of unprecedented difficulty: ana
the Keen sense OF added responsibility
with which this honor flls-l haa Amos,
said burtiens-me as / think of the great
, issues OF national life and poncy IN
volved III the present and immediate u
ture conduct of our government.
| shall seek as ] have always sought
to Justify the extraordinary commence
thus reposed III me by striving 10 purge
my heart and purpose Of every personal
and Of every misleading party motive
and devoting every energy | nave 10 the
service of the nation as whole, praying
that may continue to have the couiisel
and support OF all forWard-iook,hs men
For | do not doubt that the people
Of the United States will wish the dsin,
ocratic party to continue III cohtrol OF
the government. They are not IN the
q habit OF re jectius those VINO nave aetuahs
served them for those who are making
doubtful and conjectural promises OF
service Least of all are they likely to
substitute those who promised to render
them particular services ana proved ,aise
to that promise for those who nave
actually rendered those very services.
Party Has Done Its Duty.
Roasting is always an empty bust
ness which pleases nobody but the
hoastsr. and | have no disposition to
beast of what the democratic party has
accomplished. 1t has merely done ITS
duty. II has merely fulfilled its ex-
plicit promises.
But there can be no violation of good
r taste in calling attention to the manner
in which those promises have been car
ried out or in adverting to the inter-
eSting fact that many of the things &C
complished Were what the opposition
party had again and again promised 70
do but had left undone. Indeed. that Is
manifeStly part of the business OF ms
Year of reckoning and assessment.
p, There is no means of judging the
future except by assessing the past
Constructive action must be weighed
against destructive comment and reac-
ton The democrats either have OF
have not understood the varied inter
ests of the country. The test is contain
ed in the record.
What is that record? What were the
democrats called into power to do?
What things had long waited to be
done. and how did the democrats do
them it is a record of extraordinary
length and variety. rich in elements OF
many kinds but consistent in principle
throughout and susceptible of brief re-
eeital.
Failure Ousted Republicans.
The republican party was put out Of
power because of failure, practical fail
ure and moral failure: because it had
served special interests and not the
country at large: because. under the
leadership OF its preferred and estab-
1ished guides of those who still make
its choices. it had lost touch with the
thoughts and the needs of the nation
and was living in d pas st age and under
a fixed Illusion, the illusion of great
ness.
TT had framed tariff laws based upon
fear of foreign trade. a fundame nta |
doubt as 10 American skill. enterprise
aud capacity. and a very tender regard
for the profitable privileges of those who
had gained control of domestic mari cts
and domestic credits: and yet had en-
acted antitrust laws which hampered
the very things they meant to foster,
which were stiff and inelastic and il,
part unintellisible. II had permitted
the country throughout the long period
of is control to stsgger from one finan-
lcial crisis to another under the opera =
rion of national banking law of its
own framing which made stringency
and panic certain and the control of the
larger business operations Of the coun-
trE by the bankers of few reserve
', enters inevita Bile: had made as if II
meant I" reform the law but had faint
hearted1y failed in the attempt, beca use
1T could not bring itself to do the one
thing necessary to make the reform
genuine and effectual. namely, break up
the c"n'rSl Of small groups Of bankers
II had been Utlivious, or Indifferent
t. the fact that the farmers. upon
" nom the country depends for its food
ADD in the last analysis for its pros
% p"rlty. We're without standing in the
matter of commercial credit without
the protection Of sta ndards in their
H-"r!et transactions. and without sys-
t.. tatiS knowledge of the markets
Themselves. that the Ia borers of the
-r9fntry. the great army of men who
tltstn the Industries il was protesting TO
T. her aud promote carried their labor
4 mere commodity to market were
= s. "Ject to restraint by novel and dras-
IA process ~ the courts. were without
a@Eurauc" Of compensation for indus
trial accidents. without federal assist
@nce ~ accommodating labor disputes
aud without national aid or advice in
q ding the places and the industries in
t"h their labor was most needed
TIC country had no national system Of
Ff.--@ construction and development
Army and Navy Neglected.
Little Intelligent attention was paid
to TIRE .ssjEy. and not enough 10 tho