The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-01-21


ed by our predecessors in Nation
al conventions, an adverse politi-
cal and religious test has been
secretly organized by a party
claiming to be exclusively Amer
lean, it is proper that the Amer
ican democracy should clearly de-
fine it's religion thereto and de-
clare its determinated opposition
to all secret political societies,
by whatever name they may be
called. b..
Resolved, That the foundation
of this union having been laid in,
and its prosperity, expansion and
preeminent example in free gov
ernment, built upon entire free
dom in matters of religious con-
cernment, and no respect of per-
son in regard to rank or place of
birth, no party can justly be
deemed national, constitutional,
or in accordance with American
principles which bases it's exclu-
sive organization upon religious
opinions and accidental birth
place. And hence a political cru
sade in the Nineteenth century,
and in the United States of Amer
ca, against Catholic and foreign
born, is neither justified by the
past history or the future pros
poets of the country, nor in uni
son with the spirit of liberation
and enlarged freedom which so
peculiarly distinguishes the AM
erican system of popular govern
ment."
The movement which the democratic
party by the foregoing declaration
so strongly condemned was precisely
the same kind of crusade as the one
now being led by Mr.. Cats and his
cohorts. Be it also remembered that
H. Stephens, vice-presi-
dent of the Confederacy, scathingly
denounced the same movement.
The democratic platform of 1856
was affirmed in the Democratic Con-
vention in 1860; re-affirmed in the
Democratic Convention in 1884, when
Grover Cleveland was nominated and
elected, and again re-affirmed in the
Democratic Convention in 1888. No
contrary position having been taken
by the Democratic Party since that
time, the declaration above quoted is
the supreme party law and binding
upon every member of the Democratic
party.
Because of the Constitutional pro-
visions and platform declarations
above referred to, it became the SOL
emn duty of the State Democratic Ex-
ecutive Committee, under the law
enacted by Democratic Legislature,
to take affirmative action prescrib-
ing the qualifications of Democratic
electors, and like men they discharged
that duty. The oath required by the
of an elector in gener-
al election is as far-reaching in its
effect as the obligation required of an
slector before he will be permitted to
vote in the Democratic Primary. ANY
voter who cannot take the oath re-
1uired by the Committee, cannot take
he oath required by the Constitution,
without stultifying himself.
| am willing to follow in the foot
steps of Thomas Jefferson and the
yreat leaders of Democracy since his
ime. 1t is your privilege to follow
he leadership of the Rev. S. J. Cats
md Nelson A. Miles, if you wish to
10 so, but as a Southern man with
he blood of South Carolinian parents
lowing in my veins, and with un-
werving loyalty to the cause for
which our people made such heroic
acrifce both at home and on the field |
# battle, l will never align myself |
With an organization headed by man
Who hates the South, and everything
hat we hold so dear, and who, like
contemplate coward, bound the
rail form of Jefferson Davis in shac-
les and chains. If that is thS~ only
ource from which patriotism springs,
1od help our country; if to follow the
leadership of this man is the price
must pay for public office, l shall be
ontent to live in the quiet and seclu
ion of private life for the remainder
f my days.
NV mother was member of the
Church. Following her eX-
mple and teaching, and believing that
What she did was right, joined the
Methodist Church in my early man.
lood. The wife of my bosom, who
,ou have known since her babyhood,
S also of the same faith. My three
hildren attend the Methodist Sunday |
school. AS far back as | can Il
ny ancestors, and as far back as my |
wife can trace hers, they were all Pro-
To worship God according to the
iictates of ones own conscience IS a
Divine right, and we are protected in
hat right by the Federal and State
All l ask for myself
s that l be permitted to live in re-
igious atmosphere of my own choos-
ng, answerable only to my conscience
md my God for whatever course [
nay choose to follow. Believeing this
o be my right, l am willing to ac-
ord to my fellow-man the same right,
md, if need be, defend him in the free
exercise of that right.
As a Democrat, have offered my
elf as a candidate for the Democratic
for Governor of Florida.
want no man to vote for me be-
ause of my religious faith.