Arizona republican., 1916-06-08

bined to make us the second party of this nation in 1912. The 4,200,000 voters who followed our leader and espoused our cause can be augmented to ma jority perhaps more easily under united banners. but if need be the Progressive standard will go forward alone. We cannot believe that rule or ruin fac tion will dominate the political machin- cry of the historic party of Lincoln and that they will prefer personal defeat and national degredation to acceptance of the foremost leadership of the na- ton. 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.
 We are ready to keep full 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 leader ship, we shall not shirk the task. There are worse things than temporary de- feat for great principles of human jus tice and moral truth.
 For our part we feel that in this solemn hour no motive of personal in- terests or party advantage will be tol- erated to thwart the awakened con- science and intelligence of the Amer , ican people.
 i 'The Progressives stand for Ameri- ] canism and preparedness. They stand | for an Americanism which is not quail i flied by differences in blood or birth or creed. They stand for preparedness of the body and of the spirit, industrial and social as well as military, with uni versal service for the defense of the nation.
 ! "1n the midst of changing condi- tions, unparalleled in history, we can not 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. It has been said that every great movement in human affairs is incarnated in living personality. This nation needs leader in this hour whose abstract promises have been tested by concrete performance. Again, NC VIII spcelh pidiily.
 Would any disinterested patriot un- touched with partisan prejudice or per sonal feeling hesitate long to name the leader best fitted to serve this cause His name is on the lips of the-aation. Two great parties claim him as their own. He was our leader in 1912. He was the leader of the Republican par ty for many years. He was president of our nation for seven years. There is no man in America today who holds as he does alike the confidence of the American people and the ungrudgins respect of every nation in the world He has been master politician, but he has refused ever to play politics with the destiny of his country. The Ameri- can people are waiting for the leader to be named here in Chicago. They want a leader whom they know anC who speaks for them. They want firm ness in our foreign affairs. They want certainty in stating and upholding tht rights of American citizens. They wan courage to announce a program anC
 tenacity to fight it through. There ar, millions of patriotic men and womel ,straining eyes towards Chicago ant praying that the two great parties il
 convention may unite upon man wh,
 will get things done They have bee1
 reading speeches on preparedness am notes on American rights for drear
 months-only to learn at last that W have no rights except those we ar
 able to enforce and that we are no
 now prepared to enforce even the righ
 of an American citizen to live withi raiding distance of the Mexican borde |. We learn that more Americans hay ' been killed in keeping peace with Mex
 ico than were killed in fighting a wa
 with Spain.
 'Tt would be easy to denounce tn r present administration and the failure . sof the Democratic party to serve tf V national welfare and the information; q obligations of America. Criticism an q denunciation are the commonplaces 1T political controversy. But we belieN V this hour is worthy of nobler purpos h and of a better method. We rememb' = that there have been deeper problem . and perplexities presented to our go'
 ernment in the past two years than & any time for half a century and tn;
 they were presented to men for u 8 most part ill-prepared in training skill for such responsibility. Some W the responsibility for their errors
 upon us all. It is for us to see that u future shall be better than the pa a and it is in that spirit rather than one of partisan criticism that we a
 proach the duties which lie before us. "The nation waits for that leadersh to come out of the Chicago conve
 tions which will restore to ourselv
 and to the people of other nations tn
 lrespect for the American governme H which is essential to the well being
 Ia nation. It is no time for a divid
 Eopposition. It is no time for one par
 to offer to the other partisan choi
 1t is a time when wise leaders will i
 lten to the voices of the nation to choC
 their nominee. And those voices n,
 irepeat one name. If there was ever
 call of the people it is rounding now