The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-16
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
AS ADOPTED
(Continued from page ~

therefore condemn as subversive to
this nations unity and integrity and
as destructive OF it's welfare, the &C
;tivities and designs of every group or
organization, political or otherwise
that has for its object the advance
ment of the interest of a foreign pow
er, whether such object is promoted
by intimidating the government, u
political party, or representatives or
the people, or which is calculated and
tends to divide our people into an
tagonistic groups and thus to destroy
the complete agreement and solldlty
of the people and that unity Of senti-
ment and national purpose so essen
tial to the perpetuity of the nation
and it's free institutions. We condemn
all alliances and combinations or IN
dividuals in this country OF whatever
nationality or descent, who agree and
conspire together for the purpose or
embarrassing or weakening our gov
eminent or improperly influencing or
coercing our public representatives in
dealing or negotiating with any for
eign powers. We charge that such
conspiracies among limited number
exist and have been instigated for the
purpose of advancing interests of for.
eign countries to the prejudice and
detriment Of our country. We con-
denim any political party which. in
view of the activity Of such conspira-
tors, surrenders it's integrity or modi-
fies its policy.
Preparedness.
Along with the proof of our charac-
70 n OF Thn nrnnf
of our power to play the part that
Iegitimately belongs to us. The people
of the United States love peace.
They respect the rights and covet
the friendship of all other nations.
They desire neither any additional
territory or any advantage which can
not be peacefully gained by their
skill, their industry or their enter
prise; but they insist upon having
absolute freedom of national life and
policy and feel that they owe it to
them selves and to the role of spirited
which it is their sole
ambition to play, that they should
render themselves secure against the
hazard of interference from any quar-
ter and should be able to protect
their rights upon the seas or in any
part of the world. We, therefore,
favor the maintenance of an army
fully adequate to the requirements
and safety and protection of our ma
tons rights; the fullest development
of modern methods of seacoast de-
Tense and the maintenance of an
adequate reserve of citizens trained
to arms and prepared to safeguard
the people and territory Of the United
States against any danger of hostile
action which may Unexpectedly arise;
and fixed policy for the continuous
development of navy worthy to
support the great naval traditions of
this nation and fully equal to the in
tasks which the U. S.
hopes and expects to take part In
performing. The plans and enact
ments of the present congress afford
proof OF our purpose in
this exigent matter.
international Relations.
The democratic administration has
the present war scrupu.
lousy and successfully held to the
Did paths of neutrality and to the
peaceful pursuit of the legitimate OBJ
jects of our national life which states
men of all parties and creeds have
prescribed for themselves in America
since the beginning of our history.
But the circumstances of the last two
years have revealed necessities of in
terHational action which no former
can have foreseen. We
hold that it is the duty of the United
States to use its power, not only 10
make itself safe at home. but also to
make secure its just interests through
out the world, and both for this end
and in the interest OF humanity, to
assist the world in securing settled
peace and justice. We believe that
every people has the right to choose
the sovereignty under which il shall
live: that the small states OF the
world have a right to enjoy from
other nations the same respect for
their sovereignty and for their terri
torial integrity that great and power
full nations expect and insist upon;
and that the world has q right to be
free from every disturbance OF its
peace that has it's origin in aggres-
sion or disregard of the rights of
peoples and nations; and we believe
that the time has come when il is the
duty of the United States 10 join with
the other nations of the world in any
feasible association that will effective
~ serve luOHt principles 10 maintain
inviolate the complete security of the
highway of the seas for the common
and unhindered use of all nations
The present administration has con-
sistently sought to act and realize on
its conduct of foreign affairs OF ma
t'on the principle that should be The
ctlect of any association and the
I ations formed TO secure the pear.
of the world and the maintenance of
national and individual rights. 1t has
followed the highest American tradi-
tions. It has preferred respect for
the fundamental rights If smaller
states even to property interests and
has secured the friendship of the
people of these states for the United
States by refusing to make a more
material interest an excuse for the
assertion of our superior power
against the dignity of their sovereign
independence. 1t has regarded the
lives of its citizens and the claims
of humanity as of greater moment
than material rights, and peace as