Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-10-19
CZECH0- SL0VAK NATION
ISSUES DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE

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burgs themselves dared not deny.
Francis Joseph in the most solemn
manner repeatedly recognized the
sovereign rights of our nation. The
Germans and Magyars opposed this
recognition and Austria-Hungary,
bowing before the pan-Germans. be-
came A colony of Germany and. as
her yanguards to the east. provoked
| the last Balkan conflict, as well as
the present world war. which was be-
gun bv the Hapsburgs alone without
| the consent of the representatives of
the people.
- Iiapahurgs Menace.
! eve cannot and will not continue
| 10 live under the direct or indirect
rule of the vioators of Belgium,
France and Serbia, the would-be
murderers of Russia and Rumania,
the murderers of tens of thousands
| of civilians and soldiers of our
blood, and the aCcompliees in num-
berless unspeakable crimes commit
| ted in this war against humanity by
| the two degenerate and irresponsible
| dynasties. We will not remain n part
of a state which has no justification
for existence and which, refusing
to accept the fundamental principles
of modern world organization, remains
only an artificial and immoral poll
teal structure. hindering every move
ment toward democratic and social
progress. The Hapsburg dynasty,
weighed down by a huge inheritance
of error and crime, is perpetual
menace to the peace Of the world, and
we deem it our duty toward humanity
and civilization to aid in bringing
about its downfall and destruction.
1--WE reject the sacreligicus asser-
ton that the power of the Hapsburs
and Hohenzollern dynasties is of di-
vine origin we refuse to recognize
the divine rights of kings. Our ma
ton elected the Hapsburgs to the
throne Of Bohemia of its own free
viii and by that same right deposes
them. We hereby declare the Haps-
burg dynasty unworthy Of leading our
nation and deny all of their claims to
rule in the CeCho- SlOyak land, which
we here and now declare shall hence
forth be Q free and Independent peo-
pie and nation
Accept American Ideals.
'We accept and shall adhere to the
ideals Of modern democracy. as they
have been the ideals of our nation for
centuries We accept the American
principles as laid down by President
Wilson; the principles of liberated
mankind--of the actual cquilitv of ma
tions-and of governments deriving
all their just power from the consent
of the governed We, the nation of
Comenius, cannot but accept these
principles, expressed in the American
Declaration of Independence, the
principles of Lincoln, and of the de-
claratiOn of the rights of man and of
the citizen. For these principles our
nation shed it's blood in the memoir
able Hustle war five hundred years
ago. for these same principles, beside
her allies, our nation is shedding it's
blood today in Russia, Italy and
France.
I'VE shall outline only the main
principles of the constitution of the
Czecho-Slovak nation; the final deci-
sion as to the constitution itself falls
to the legally chosen representative
OF the liberated and united people.
The C2echo-S lovak state shall be
a republic. In constant endeavor for
progress it will guarantee complete
freedom of conscience. religion and
science, literature and art, speech, the |
press and the right of assembly and |
petition. The church shall be sepa- |
rated from the state. Our democracy |
shall rest on universal suffrage wo-
men shall be placed on an equal foot
ing with men, politically socially and !
culturally. The rights of the minor |
itv shall be safeguarded by proper !
tionaI representation; national min !
critics shall enjoy equal rights. The |
shall be parliamentary in
form and shall recognize the prin
ciplcs of initiative and referendum.
The standing army will be replaced
by militia
Bars Secret Diplomacy.
THE C2echo- Slovak nation will 4
carry out far-reaching social and eco
monte reforms; the large estates will
be redeemed for home colonization
patents Of nobility will be abolished.
Our nation will assume it's part of
of the Austro-IIungarian nre-war
public debt; the debts for this war