South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-27
The Moral ask
Of Democracy as
Cemmiu Sees il

William Jennings Bryan, the great
commoner, has undertaken the task
of securing a declaration OH the part
of the democratic party for prom
bition. l believe that we shall see
within the next four years, the en-
tire prohibition of the manufacture
and sale of liquor; also universal
suffrage; also direct nomination anu
election of president and senator's
and many other reforms enacted IN
To laws. Mr.. Bryan will devote MS
entire time to promoting prohlOi-
ton and woman suffrage. nave
often thought that one or the olheI
of the parties should take up prom
bition, but they have not had the
courage 10 do SO. The democratic
Marty * freer from the liquor IN
tercsts and from saloon cohtIlou-
lions. and hence the more reaully
could take up that issue and mus
secure all the prohibition votes. We
hope Mr.. Bryan will succeed IN MS
effort and we wish him Godspeeu'
However, the great issue before inc
American democracy is the moral
task of applying the Golden kule 10
all the relations of life and causing
the United States TO stand Ior the
principles of Christianity. That Is the
moral task of democracy. The
democracy of the future must ap-
ply the teachings of religion 10 state
problems, and thus lift our nation
TO a UNIQUE position among the ma
tiOns.
II must maintain our constitution
al system, which consists IN the
application of the eternal principles
of iustice &c all the relations or men
to each other under our social COM
nact That no man can be deprived
of life or limb without due process
of law; that the privilege or haOeas
corpus should never be denied 10
any. that no private property should
he taken for public uses without
proper compensation; that there
shall be equal justice for all AMI
equal chances for all, are principles
tbat constitute the essence of our
s,,star of government. These are
founded on justice and righteous
ness. Democracy must apply the rule
OF equity To everyday life.
II is the duty of democracy to re-
vive the Golden Rule or the princl-
pie of justice as applied 10 prac-
tical notifies. IL must insist that peo-
ple of small and weak states should
no dealt with as those Of big and
strong states. Ii must deal fairly
bv all and insist that all others do
the same. IL should not use Dig
stick" going about yelling square
deal" and doing nothing, but quiet
" nut into practice the Golden Rule.
= must maintain "A strict neutrality
among warning DatiOns. willing that
Droperty rights be arbitrated, but
insisting that lives OF neutrals be not
sacrificed.
Democracy must follow the
Christian policy In our domestic
and foreign relations. 1t must have
none Of the selfshness nor partisan
shin as exhibited in the late cam
naign The me first and national
honor" policy OF some has plung-
ed Europe into the awful and bloody
war through which il is passing. The
Golden Rule policy Of democracy
has kept this nation at peace and
given the farmers and manufactur-
ers a high price for their products.
Which is the wiser policy? The sell
dsh policy advocated by the impeI
ialists. or the Christian policy prac-
ticed by democracy. on all moral
ISSUES democracy has not long hesi-
tated. and hence = hope than Sir.
BRYAN will be able 90 carry out his
great purposes The very life az
democracy is bound up in not dodg-
ing moral issues on state problems.
History viii indict any man in Amer
Tea who does not play fair. and who
tries TO enter office under false pre-
fences. IL may make allowances 90.
man for his mental calibre bu.
no allowance can be made for q
mans oblouity and subterfuge