The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-27

mesa In vision, In insight, in high puF-
pose and in desire to render practical
service to the people, typified exactly
what such bodies ought to be in a
great self-governing democracy. They
represented the spirit which moved
Abraham Lincoln and his political as
sociatss during the decade preceding
the olose OF the Civil War. The plat
form put forth In 1914 was much
the most important public document
promulgated in this country since the
death Of Abraham LINCOLN. 1t rep
resented the first effort on a large
scale to translate abstract formulas
of economic and social justice into
concrete American nationalism; the
effort to apply the principles of Wash
'ington and Lincoln 10 the need of the
United States IN the twentieth CEN
fury. No finer effort was ever made
TO serve the American people. In
spirit Of high loyalty to all that Is
loftiest in the American tradition.
PROGRESSIVE PARTY ONLY
ALTERNATE IN 1919
Events have shown that the Pro-
gressive party in 1919 offered the only
alternative TO the triumph of the
Dem ocratio party. Moreover, these
events have shown that tho appltca-
ton OF the principles which we then
advocated Is even more necessary to
this nation than we at the time sup
posed. The results OF the terrible
world-war OF the past two years have
now made 1t evident to all who are
willing to see. that In this country
there must be spiritual and industrial
preparedness. along the lines of ef-
ficiency; OF loyal service to the nation,
and Of practical application Of the
precept that each man must be his
brothers keeper. Furthermore. 1t is
no less evident that this prepared
ness for the tasks of peace forms the
only sound basis for the Indispensable
military preparedness which rests on
Lniversal military training, and which
finds expression in universal obliga-
! tory service in time Of war. Such uni
versal obligatory training and service
fare tho necessary compliments OF uni
versal suffrage. and represent the
realization of the true American. the
democratic. ideal In both peace ana
war
Sooner or later the national pr4nci-
pies charnpioned by the Progresstves
of 1912 must In their general effect
7 be embodied IN the structure of our
| national existence. With all my heart
II shall continue to work for these
~ eat ideals. shoulder TO shoulder with
the men an women who in 1919
championed them; and I am sure that
these men and women will show g. like
loyalty TO the other. the fundamental,
IDEALS which the EVENT. OF the past
two years have proven TO be vital to
the permanency of our national exist
ence. The method by which we are
~ show our loyalty to these ideals
must be determined in each case by
the actual event, Our loyalty is to
the fact, to the principle. to the ideal,
end not merely to the name, and least
or all to the party name. The Pro-
2resStve movement has been given an
: incalculable impetus by what the Pro-
gress;ye party has done. Our strong
est party antagonists have accepted
and enacted into law, or embodied in
their party platforms, very many Of
our most important principles Much
Mas been accomplished in awakening
the public to a better understanding
Of the problems of social and indus
trial welfare. Yet 1t has become en-
existing conditions are not prepared
70 accept a new party.
I SHOULD NOT SULK BECAUSE
LEADERSHIP REFLECTED
Ii Is impossible for us Progressives
TO abandon our convictions, But we
are faced with the fact that rs things
,aNJAually are the Progressive national
orga ntzatton no longer offers the
means whereby we can make these
convictions effective In our national
life Under such circumstances. our
duty is TO do the best we can, and not
TO sulk because our leadership is re-
tected, That we ourselves continue
to believe that the course we advocat-
{,, No hfrrauS frtn ~
the American people Is aside from the
question. II is unpatriottc 20 refuse
10 do the best possible merely because
the people have not put us In posi-
) ton to DO what we regard as the very
best. It remains for us. good hu-
moredty and with common sense. to
face the situation and endsavor TO ge4
out of II the best that II can be made
70 yield from the standpoint of the
interests Of the nation as whole.
This was the situation at the open
ing Of the present year 1t was clearly
evident That unless q cataclysn oc.
Cured the presidential election woub
result In the choice of either the Re-
publican or the Democratic nominee
The present administration. during TIA
three years OF life, has been guilty o.
.sh ortcomings moro signal than those
of any administration since tho days
Z of buchanan From the standpoint
OF national honor and Interest, II stood
on an even lower level than the
atministrnfi Of Buchanan No ad-
ministration I'm our history had done
} more to relax the spring of the ma
tional Will and to deaden the national
con science. within the Republican
party conflicting forces were at work
There were men among the orEanixa-
ton leaders who advocated n course
of action such as offered no improve.
rnerft upon Che Dem ocratic position
and advocated the nomination OF oan-
didstes whose election would have
represented no Improvement upon the
Continuance in office OF Mr.. Wilson
II such course were followed. II
wonad obviously become our duty tc
run third ticket But 1t was PLAINLY
our duty TO do everything honorable
In order to prevent such a necessity
10 DO everything short uf sacrificing
our most sacred convictions in orde,
co secure the alignment under ono
leadership Of the forces opposed b
the continuance In power OF Mr.. VIII,
son and the DernocrHtfo party.
Under these circumstances tho Pro-
gresetvs national committee, at Chi