The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-06-16
SUPPORT PRESIDENT
PARAMOUNT ISSUE
Democratic Keynote Sounded by
Temporary Chairman Glynn.
DEFENDS NEUTRALITY POLICY
Advocates Defense Preparedness and
Fiouts MiIItarIsm Bugaboo-DIs-
cusses Domestic Policies and
Eulogizes Mr.. Wilson.

is a condensed version of the address
delivered at the opening Of the Demo
cratic national convention today by
Temporary Chairman Martin H.
Glynn, former governor of New York.
Gentlemen of the Conventions: The
Democratic party, In this convention
assembled, meets to perform a duty,
not to itself but to the nation.
We have entered this hall as Demo
Gratis; we shall deliberate and act here
as Americans.
Disregarding the divisions that make
one man Tory and another q Wing.
one man Republican and another
Democrat, Americans will cast aside
the tinsel of party emblems.
From the great, pulsing heart OF the
nation will come a patriot command
to crush partisanship and rebuke what
ever Is mean or blind.
And when, a century from now,
Americas children come to read our
history, we pray God that the history
we are about to make may prove an
inspiration to their loyalty.
In the attainment Of this hope, the
utterance of this prayer we who gather
here today have a responsibility that
sobers our emotions as 1t strengthens
our resolutions.
For two years the world has been
afire. That fire still burns, but thus
far the United States has held the
flame at bay.
Must Support Principles.
What the people of the United
States must determine through their
suffrage is whether the principles that
have been asserted as our national pol
icy shall be Endorsed or withdrawn.
This is the paramount issue.
For 200 years neutrality was the
DRY; America made 1t fact. To win
this priceless right of neutrality this
nation had to undergo long and pain
full struggle.
Where is the American hardy enough
to challenge a policy 80 firmly fixed
in the nations traditions?
The president of the United States
stands today where stood the men who
made America and who saved Amer
lea and made American neutrality a
national creed.
II Washington was right, II Jeffer-
son was right, If Hamilton was right,
If Lincoln was right, then the presi-
dent Of the United States is right
today; If the Republican leaders are
right then Lincoln was wrong and
Jefferson was wrong and Hamilton
was wrong and Washington was
wrong.
In all the history of the world
there is no other national policy that
has justified itself so completely and
entirely as the American policy of
neutrality and isolation from the quar-
rels of European powers.
Neutral Rights Asserted.
No American who knows the facts
can honestly oppose or criticise the
policy of neutrality which the present
Democratic administration has pur-
sued.
Americas doctrine of neutrality
never meant that this nation must
rush headlong into war at the first
invasion Of its neutral rights. This
does not mean that America will not
resort to war when all other means
of protecting its neutral rights have
failed, but 1t does mean that America
will exhaust every peaceful means Of
protecting those rights before 1t takes
the step from which there is no ap-
peal.
The issue, raised by our opponents,
of the vigor with which our neutral
ity has been enforced is a compare
tive issue which can be decided only
by comparative results.
When Grant was president, during
the war between Spain and the Span
ish West Indies, Spanish gunboat
seized the vessel Virginius flying the
American flag and Spanish com
mandant in cold blood shot the cap
tain of the virginius, SO of the crew
and 16 Of the passengers.
But we didn't go to war. Grant
settled our troubles by negotiation.
When Benjamin Harrison was
president the people of Chill con-
ceived a violent dislike to the United
States. One junior officer from the
United States warship Baltimore was
killed outright in the streets of Val
paraiso and 16 of our sailors wound
ed
But we didn't go to war. Harrison
settled our troubles by negotiation.
More Historical Facts.
When Lincoln was president this
country's rights were violated on ev.
cry side. England, Russia, France
and Spain were guilty Of fragrant vio-
lations.
But we didn't go to war. Lincoln
settled our troubles by negotiation.
When Pierce was president the
British minister In this country and
three Of his consuls violated our neu.
trality during the Crimean war. We
gave these representatives of Great
Britain their passports and sent them