The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-06-17
SUPPORT PRESIDENT
PARAMOUNT ISSUE
Democratic Keynote Sounded by
Temporary Chairman GIynn.
DEFENDS NEUTRALITY POLICY
Advocates Defense Preparedness and
Flouts miltarism BugabOo-Ois-
cusses Domestic Policies and
Eulogzes Mr. Wilson.

selive:ed at the opening o; the Demo
cratic national convention today by
Temporary chairman Martin j.
GIynn. former governor OF New York.
Gentlemen Of the Convention. The
Democrat party IN this convention
assembled meets 20 perform duty.
DOT TO itself bu' 10 the nation.
We have entered this hall as Demo
Gratis. We shall deliberate and act here
a. Americans.
II in this great crisis that now con
fronts the nation, the American people
falter. their apostasy will be visited
upon the descendants OF their chill
drens children.
Disregarding the divisions that make
one man a Tory and another Wing,
one man a Republican and another a
Democrat Americans Will cast aside
the tinsel OF party emhlems.
From the great, pulsing heart Of the
nation will come patriot command
10 crush paVtisanship and rebuke what
ever is mean or blind
And when. a century from now.
Americas children come TO read our
history, we pray God that the history
we are about 10 make may prove an
Inspiration to their loyalty.
In the attainment OF this hope. the
utterance OF this prayer We who gather
here today have q responsibility that
scbers our emotions as il strengthens
our resolutions.
For two years the world has been
afre. That fire still burns. but thus
Tar the United States has held the
fame at bay
Must Support Principles.
What the people OF the United
States must determine through their
suffrage is whether the principles that
have been asserted as our national pol
icy shall be Endorsed or Withdrawn.
This is the paramount issue.
For 200 years neutrality was a the
DRY, America made it a fact. To win
this priceless right OF neutrality this
nation had to undergo a long and pain
full struggle.
Where is the American hardy enough
to challenge a policy so firmly fixed
IN the nations traditions?
The president Of the United States
stands today where stood the men who
made America and who saved Amer
lea and made American neutrality a
national creed.
If Washington was right, if Jeffer-
pnn Hamilton ,raa right
IL Lincoln was right, then the presi-
dent of the United States is right
today; If the Republican leaders are
right then Lincoln was wrong and
Jefferson was wrong and Hamilton
was wrong and Washington was
wrong
In all the history Of the world
there is no other national policy that
has justified itself so completely and
entirely as the American policy of
neutrality and isolation from the quar-
rels of European powers.
Neutral Rights Asserted.
No American who knows the facts
can honestly oppose or criticise the
policy OF neutrality which the present
Democratic administration has pur.
sued
Americas doctrine OF neutrality
never meant that this nation must
rush headlOng into war at the first
invasion of its neutral rights. This
Goes not mean that America will not
resort to war when all other means
4 OF protecting its neutral rights have
failed, but it does mean that America
will exhaust every peaceful means oi
protecting those rights before it takes
the step from which there is no ap
peal.
- The issue. raised by our opponents
OF the vigor with which our neutral
fly has been enforced is a compare
tive issue which can be decided only
by comparative results.
When Grant was president. during
the war between Spain and the Span
fish West Indies. a Spanish gunboat
seized the vessel Nirginius flying tn,
American flag and a Spanish com
mandant in cold blood shot the cap
tain OF the Virginius. Sc of the crew
and l6 OF the passengers.
But we didn't go to war. Grant
settled our troubles by negotiation
When Benjamin Harrison was
president the people of Chilli con
ceived violent dislike to the United
States. One junior officer from the
United States warship Baltimore was
killed outright in the streets OF Val
paraiso and 10 OF our sailors wound
ed.
But We didn't go to war Harrison
settled our troubles BY negotiation
More Historical Facts.
When Lincoln was president this
country's rights were violated on ev
cry side. England Russia. France
and Spain were guilty Of fragrant VIC
latIons
But We didn't r. h var Lincoln
settled our troubles By negotiation
When Pierce Haa prcslara, nc
British minister 10 'hIa coun'r7 and
three 81 HE ronsgIa violated our ncg
trailtY during taH Cr.nsan uar We
gave these Representatives ~ Great
Frsez.s only IN summer.
At CondArspnr'. Pa is the stra,zss,
nine IN fhe world y IL an tee mine
which frsezes IN sumner and fbaU.
IA vrfprA~ (harIsa assb4r tg.,g..