The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-15

erty but the instances are rare in which
American honor was so assailed that the
people deemed it necessary to maintain
that honor by force of arms. Neither the
President nor the people have lost the
American spirit. Whether native-born or
foreign born an overwhelming majority
love the Gag and are loyal to our in
stiutions. Let any organized government
upon the face of the earth through its
governmental authorities, deliberately
offer insult to the flag or trample
upon the rights of the American people
and the spirit of rs will be found alive
everywhere in our land. But so long as
there is no manifest intention or de-
liberate purpose on the part of a govern
ment to insult our government, not all
the perturbed orators who long for place
can stir the martial spirit in the breasts
Of our people. We will not fight to please
Individual views. We take up arms only
for the composite American VINO mas been
moulded in the constitutional pattern
OF civil and religious liberty.
MEXICAN SITUATION
In regard to Mexico. let the republicans
say that they will intervene. Let them
announce their purpose to invade that
country and police it, to guarantee title
to property however obtained and to re-
main therein long as necessary, and
then let every son. husband and father.
spontaneously with voting the republic
can ticket enlist in the army of interview
ton. But If they will not do this let
them keep silence. Mere criticism Is not
constructive. Nobody discharges one doc
tor whom another critcizes for his treat
ment. unless the second offers a better
remedy. Post mortems may discover dis
eases but they do not rencarnate.
The one bright. peaceful spot under the
sun this day is America and it is so
, han - -
the charge OF using words rather than
shot and shell and shrapnel. Three years
ago we thought that the age of brute
force had passed and that the brain and
heart of man were to rule the world.
Impartially and in accordance with our
treaties and the principles of international
law. the President has used mere words
For this the exigencies of a political cam
paign demand that he shall be criticized.
If America Is to lead the world toward
that now seemingly far-distant goal
where brute force shall be bound by wis
dom and conscience in letters which It
can never again break, then these are
the hours for mere words. Parties come
and parties go. Politicians and partisans
strut their brief hour and disappear.
Socrates drank his cup of hemlock but
philosophy lived on. The spirit Of Sa-
vanarola went up in smoke from the
market place in Florence but religion re-
manned the supreme hope of the human
heart Mocked at. misunderstood mis-
judged. Lincoln went to his martyrs
crown but the republic was reunited and
still lives. In this hour of world dark
ness, have faith that humankind il go
ing upward to the heights, not downward
to the wales. The judgment of the
American people is not to make martyr
Of the man who brooded over the re-
public in storm stressed times and by
IN a
seas of international politics.
Not for additional honor. but In the
hope that I may assist in the reelection
Of Woodrow Wilson who has not walked
where the path has led. but who has
walked where there was no path and
who has left trail, I accept this nomi-
nation.