New Britain herald., 1916-06-07

portunity of the time Is such that per sonal differences partisan bitterness and local prejudices should be surren- dered to serve the nations highest good We should not be parted by mere names, however dear, nor by ! past resentments, however, justified.
 But we should solemnly warn all those of an easy and accommodating political virtue that we will not sur | render principle nor make unworthy compromise to gain meaningless and selfish political victory We would rather face possible defeat fighting for 1 our cause than to seek assured Nlc- | tory through moral treason to those 1 high principles and heroic souls that ombined to make us the second party i of this nation in 1912. The 4,200,O0O voters who followed our leader and espOused our cause can be augmented to a majority perhaps more easily under united banners, but if need be the progressive standard will go for i ward alone. We cannot believe that a rule or ruin faction will dominate ! the political machinery of the his l tOriC party of Lincoln and that they | will prefer personal defeat and na- 1 tional degradation to acceptance of | the foremost leadership of the nation. ] But in this day and hour it should I be made plain that the choice is in our hands and that the judgment of the people will be upon our heads.
 We are ready to keep full and gen. 1 erOuS faith with the declaration of our national committee in January of i the present year! But if our faith shall meet no response and we alone l tO roSSs | on the patriotism of American polit- ical leadership, we shall not shirk the task. There are worse things than temporary defeat for great principles of human justice and moral truth.
 For our part we feel that in this solemn hour no motive of personal interest or party advantage will be tolerated to thwart the awakened conscience and intelligence of the American people.
 ''The progressives stand for Amer icanism and preparedness. They stand for an Americanism which is not qualified by differences in blood i Or birth or creed. They stand for | preparedness of the body and of the spirit, industrial and social as we'll as military, with universal service for the defense of the nation.
 Tn the midst of changing condi- 1 tiens, unparalleled in history, we can- not even forecast the problems that will confront America in the next four | years. The chief issue today is one of leadership, the supreme need fol a man. It has been said that every great movement in human affairs is incarnated in a living personality This nation needs a leader in this hour whose abstract promises have been tested by concrete performance Again. we will speak plainly.
 Would any disinterested patrio untouched with partisan prejudice ol personal feeling hesitate long to name the leader best fitted to serve this cause? His name is on the lips O the nation Two great parties clain him as their own. He was our lead CT in 1912. He was the leader of the republican party for many years. H, was president of our nation for sever years There is no man in America today who holds as he does alike tht confidence of the American people and the ungrudging respect of ever! nation in the world. He has been master politician, but he has refused ever to play politics with the destin, 1 pie are waiting for the leader. to b
 named here in Chicago They wan leader whom they know t1d wh
 speaks for them. They want firm ness in our foreign affairs. The want certainty in stating and up holding the rights of American cit izens. They want courage to an
 nounce program and tenacity t. fight it through. There are million } of patriotic men and women strainin, eyes towards Chicago and prayinJ that the two great parties in con : vention may unite upon a man wht will get things done. They have beer reading speeches on preparedness ant notes on American rights for drear, mOnthS-only to learn at last that WI have no rights except those we arr
 able to enforce and that we are no now prepared to enforce even th
 rlght or an American citizen to liv
 Wlthn ralding distance of the Mex lcan border. We learn that nor Amer1cans have been killed in keep Ing peace With Mexico than wer killed in fighting a war with Spain.
 Tt would be easy to denounce tn
 present administration and the fail ures of the democratic party to serv the national welfare and the inter national obligations of America. Crit icism and denunciation are the com monplaces of political controversy But we believe this hour is worth. of nobler purpose and of a bette1 method. We remember that there have been deeper problems and per plexities presented to our governmen in the past two years than at any time for half a century and that they were presented to men for the mos part ill-prepared in training or skill for such responsibility. Some of the