The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-01-04
THE NATIONAL
PARTY'S WAR
DECLARATION

The National Party's Executive
Committee adopted the following
declaration concerning the war:
By decision of Congress, the only
constituted authority, this nation is
at war with the Imperial German
Government. The war is fact
and all question as to whether we
ought to have entered the war is,
at this time, academic and useless.
1t cannot serve any good purpose and
may, if INDUCED in, result in weak
ening the national cause and pro-
long the war.
Fundamentally the war is strug-
gle between the ideals and aspira-
lions of democracy on the one hand,
and the ideals and aspirations of
autocracy on the other hand. I'm
perfect though our democracy may
be, nevertheless it is one of the most
advanced III JIie WOIlu.
We rejoice in the assurance that
in the words of President Wilson we
have entered this war for no. selfish
objects of our own; that we seek no
material profit or ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
no acquisition of territory, no eco
nomic privileges or advantages of
any kind, but only the establishment
of the freedom of all peoples, great
and small, from the aggression of
autocratic force and military ambi-
ton.
Aims of the War
We entered the war to resist in
ternational aggression and lawless-
ness, to establish a permanent basis
for international peace, and to aid
in the movement toward democracy
in all lands: Believing that these
aims are coincident with the best
interests of all free peoples, and
even those of the people of Ger
many, and confident that this ma
ton will not forget these aims nor
permit our forces to be used for
conquest or imperialistic oppression,
we pledge our full and undivided
support to our nation and its allies
in the pursuit of these aims.
Our allegiance of loyalty is that of
yl,< do Inr ha
fundamental civil liberties, so dearly
won, without which there can be no
democracy We assert our free
mems right to freedom of discussion
as to the methods employed by the
Government in the conduct of the
war and as to the terms of peace.
Surrender of these rights would be
the surrender of the essential prin-
ciples of democracy.
Patriotic Freedom of Speech and
Press
We deplore any tendency on the
part of any public official, munich
pal, state or national, to resort to
the undemocratic policy of the sup
preston of all manifestations of dis
sent or criticism of the conduct of
the war, and we appeal in all con-
fidence to President Wilson to exert
his influence Immediately toward the
preservation in this time of crisis
of these fundamental civil liberties.
While fully conscious of the fact
that in this critical period in our
history restrictions of civil liberties
which in times of peace would be
intolerable must be borne in the
interest of the national cause, new
ertheless we believe that the ut
most freedom Of assembly, discus
sion and publication consistent with
national safety should be permitted.
In especial we believe that the free
discussion of the terms upon which
peace shall be attained should be en-
couraged. Possibly pro-German pro-
paganda will be carried on under the
guise of discussing peace terms, but
the fact must not be used as a
pretext for the suppression of free
discussion of peace terms, since in
this way alone can the American
people be educated on international
questions, so as to create intelligent
public opinion between now and the
close of the war.
We strongly urge that the unlim-
tied power of censorship now reposed
in the Postmaster General should be
abolished, and be replaced by ma
tional council of censorship, upon
which the various social reform and
labor movements of the country shall
be adequately represented.
Equal Suffrage
Believing that our power in this
struggle for democracy in the world
would be enormously increased there
hv we StronplV urge uDon the Pres