Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-23
Il {. NOT Democratic Party's War!

u 10 NOT Democratic Party's war!
With the conclusion Of the Lib
erty Loan drive political activity
again occupies US, and thsp as now
every single act Of the Republican
party in state and nation shall be
determined solely by how we can
contribute most to the sum total of
war sood," declared Will H. Hays,
chairman Of the Republican Ma
tional Committee in statement
Monday.
New Hampshire and Wisconsin
early sent their answer to the Demo-
cratic attempt ITO use the war for
partisan political purposes.
Maine voters by an unprecedented
Republican majority sent their en-
phatic denunciation of such practices,
and have shown to tho country that
the people Of this nation endorse the
Republican position that this is the
war of no political party-that it is
the peoples war, and that the war
rust be kept out Of partisan politics
and partisanship must be kept out Of
the war.
Notwithstanding these defeats,
the Democratic high command fur
their pursues this policy.
They are circularizing the coun-
try with a pamphlet entitled, why
YOU mould give earnest attention
right now to electing a Democratic
Congress- 1t is signed by an officer
of that committee. One 1 have be-
fore me was sent out in letter dated
Sept. IS. 1918, which letter is signed
by an officer of the organization. In
this pamphlet they say the election
of Republican Congress would be
a source of comfort and elation to
the Kaiser and his cohorts
Against this reprehensible con-
duct by a responsible political or
ganization 1 protest, not as Re-
publican, but as an American.
Again say. such statements do no
harm politically to the party against
which they are directed. But for ma
tionai reasons most important 1 de-
plore them.
shame on any political manage
ment that would seek \to make a
political asset out Of the patriotic
war spirit which now inspires this
nation. For shame, that any politi-
cal organization would put party
spirit above Americanism, and sacri-
fee patriotism to the meanest spirit
of partisanship. l know that the
great majority Of the membership of
the Democratic party does not ap-
prove Of such conduct. 1t is an in
suit to every soldier in France, it is
an insult to every Republican home,
from which SO very many of those
boys came, it is an insult to every
soldier who fought for Abraham Lin
coin, it is an insult to an unsullied
record for patriotism of a political
party that is a child of patriotism
conceived when our foundations
trembled, and born in the lap Of ex-
tremity. with a mission almost holy;
1t Is an insult to judgment and JUS
tice. reason and righteousness; and
the electorate of this country will
handle properly the political man
agement which in this countrys
darkest hour would attempt to make
politics out OF the most sacred trust
ever given to men.
Against this kind Of politics the
Republican party shall not reply in
kind. We appeal to all patriots
whatever their politics, to aid US in
every possible way in our efforts ia
require that partisanship be kept out
OF the war and that the war be kept
out of partisan politics. Nothing
that the Democratic party can do
can change for one moment the Re-
publican party's great purpose. to de
termine the party's every act in
state and nation by how we can con-
tribute most to the winning of the
war. for peace and victory and a
limitless support OF the country's
cause regardless Of everything else in
the world, and for a sane preparation
now for the problems of peace.
And the party's success is as
sured"