Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-19

! Hapsburg dynasty unworthy of leading
our nation, and deny all Of their claims
, 90 rule IN the Czecho- Slovak land. which
We here and now declare shall hence
forth he free and independent people
and nation.
We accept and shall adhere To- tn,
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 man
kind-ot the actual equality of nations
and of governments deriving all their
Just power from the consent OF the gov
erned. We. the nation OF ComeniuS.
cannot hut accept these principles cy-
pressed in the American Declaration of
Independence, the principles Of Lincoln,
and Of the declaration of the rights Of
man and Of the citizen. For these prjn-
ciples our nation shed its blood in the
memorable Hussite Wars 500 years ago,
! FOR these same principles besides her
I Allies, our nation is shedding it's blood
today in Russia. Italy and France.
We shall outline only the main prin-
/ ciples Of the Constitution of the Czecho-
Slovak nation; the final decision as to
/ the Constitution itself falls to the
legally chosen representative of the
! liberated and united people
Universal suffrage Recognized
"The Czecho-Slovak State shall be A
republic. In constant eudeavor for
, progress il 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 sena-
rated from the State. our democracy
snail rest on universal suffrage; women
snail be placed on an equal footing with
men POLITICALLY. socially and Culturally.
The rights Of the minority shall be safe
guarded by proportional representation ;
national minorties shall enjoy caua,
rights. The Government shall be par
llamehtary in form and shall recogniz,
the principles Of initiative and refer.
endum The standing army will he re
placed by militia,
The Czccho-SlOvak nation will carr,
out far-rcaching social and aconorni,
reforms; the large estates will be re
deemed for home cOloui2atiou patent,
OF nobility will be abolished our natio,
VIII assume it's part of the Aus-o
Hungarian pre-war public debt
debts for this war we leave 70 tbns,
who incurred them,
In it's foreign policy the Czecho
Slovak nation will accept its fun shar,
or responsibility in the reorganization
Of eastern Europe II ACCEPTS fun,
the democratic and social principl, a,
nationality and subscribes 40 the doc
trine that all covenants and treatie,
? shall be entered into openly and frankly
! without secret diplomacy
, our Constitution shall provide an
efficient, rational ana just government
which will exclude all special privilege,
and prohibit class legislation.
, democracy has defeated rheorrati,
, autocraCy. Militarisn is overcome
democracy Is victoriouS-uu the basis o
4 democracy mankind will be reorganized
The forces Of darkness have served
, the victory of light--thc Iongcd- for az,
p Of humanity is dawuing
, We believe in demOCracy--we belirv,
7 in liberty-and liberty evermore
Given in Paris. on the eighteenth %
2 October, 1918.
I PROF. THOMAS q. MASARYK
! Prime Minister and Minister o
y GENERAL DIR MILAN II. STEFANlk
= Minister of National Defense
, DIR. EDWARD BENES.
= Minister of Foreign Affairs and o
, Interior"