The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-07-22
DEMOCRATIC
ATIONAL.
PLATFORM


al convention without change. The
document Is as follows:
The Democratic party. in its national
convention nov a5seubled, sends greet
lngs 10 the president OF tile United states,
woodrow Wilson. and halls with pdlriollc
Pride the great achievements Tor country
and the world wrought by Democratic
administration under hls leadership.
II salutes tho mighty people ot THIS
great republic, emerging with imperisn.
AOle honor FROM the severe tests ana
grievous strains OF tue most tragic war
Ia history. having earned the plaudits
and gratitude of all Tree nations
1t declares its adherence 10 the funda-
meptal progressive principles OF social.
economic and industrial justice and au-
vance, and purposes To Resume the great
WORK of transldtiug these principles mo
elective laws. begun aud carrled lar by
the Democratic administration and Inter
ruptsd only When the war claimed al the
national energies tor tie single TASK OF
Victory
League Of Nations.
This Democratic party fayors the
League of Nations as the surest II not
the only practicable meaus og maintain
Ing The permanent peace OF the world
anu terminating the inSuuerIble burden
OF great military aud naval establish
ments. 1t was for this that America
broke away from traditional isolation and
spent her blood ana treasure to crush
colossal scheme OF conquest
IL was upon this basis that the presi-
dent of the United states, in prearrdnge-
ment with our allies. consented 10 a sGs-
pension of hostilities against tine imperial
German government the arnlisuce WAS
granted and a treaty OF peace negotiated
upon the definite assurance to Germany. as
well as 70 the powers pitted against ter
many, that "a general associat iOn Of ua-
tons must be formed, uuder specific COW
enants, for the purpose of aftording Inu-
tual guarantees OF poatical Independence
and territorial integrity to great and
small states alike"
Hence We not only congratulate the
president on the vision manifested and
the vigor exhibited in the prosecution OF
the war. but We feiicitItc Inn aud has
associates on the exceptional achieve
ments at Paris involved III tine adoption
OF a league and treaty so near AKIN 70
previously expressed American ideals and
30 intimately related % the aspirations
OF civilized peoples everywhere.
We commend the president Tor his cour-
age and his high conception Of good faith
In steadfastly standing for the covenant
agreed TO by all the associated and aiued
nations at war with Germany, and we
condemn the Republican senate Tor It's
refusal to fatify sthe treaty merely be-
cause IL was the product of Democratic
craftsmanship, thus iuJerpOstng partisan
envy and personal hatred IN the way OF
world.
BY every accepted standard OF inter-
national morality the president IS Justi-
ned in asserting that the honor OF tue
country is involved In this business; and
We point To the accusing fact that, before
1t was determined To initiate political an
hcan chairman OF the senate foreign re-.
lations committee himself publicly pro-
claimed that any proposition for sepa-
rate peace with Germany, such as he
and his party associates thereafter re-
ported to the senate, would MAKE US
guilty of the blacklist crime"
On May Is last the Knox substitute for
the Versailles treaty was passed by the
Republican senate, and this convention
can contrivc no more fitting characte riza-
ton OF its obloquy than that made IN the
Forum Magazine OF December. 1915 Dy
Henry Cabot Lodge when he said:
IF we send our armies and young men
abroad 10 be killed and wounded in north
srn France and Flanders with no result
but this, our entrance Into war with SUCH
an intention was a crime which nothing
can justify"
The intent OF congress and the intent
OF the president was that there could be
no peace until we could create a situation
where no such war IA this could recur.
We cannot make peace except in com
pany with our allies II would brand us
with everlasting dishonor and bring ruin
10 as also II we undertook u maze sep
arate peace"
Lodges Proposals Condemned.
Thus 10 that which Mr.. Lodge. in saner
moments, considered the blacklist CRIME
ne and his party IN madness sought 70
give the sarctty OF law, that which egh-
teen months ago was OF everlasting as
honor the Republican party and its can
didates today accept as the essence of
We indorse the presidents view Of our
international obligations and his firm
stand against reservations designed to
cut to pieces the vital provisions in con-
gress for voting against resolutions for
separate peace which would disgrace the
nation. We advocate the immediate rat
ihcation Of the treaty without reserva-
lions which would impair It's essential in
tegrity; but do not oppose the acceptance
OF any reservations making clearer or
more specific the obligations OF the United
States to the League Of Nations. only
oy doing this may we retrieve the repu
taton Of this nation among the powers
OF the earth and recover the moral lead
ership which President Wilson won and
which Republican politicians at Washing
ton sacrificed. Only by doing this may
we hope to aid effectively IN the restC-
ration of order throughout the world and
TO take the place which We should as
sumo in the front rank Of spiritual COM
mercial and Industrial Advancement
We reject as utterly vain. = not vicious.
the Republican assumption that ratifica-
ton of the treaty and membership in ,he
League of Nations would in any wise
Impair the integrity Or independence OF
our country. The fact that the cove
nant has been entered into by % nations
all as jealous of their Independence as
we are of ours IL a sufficient refutatiDn
OF such charge The president repeatedly
has declared. and this convention reaf-
arms. that all duties and obligations
as a member or the league must be ful-
alled In strict conformity with the Con-
stltuton OF the United states embodied
IN which is the fundamental requirement
OF declaratory action bY the congress be
FORE this nation may become a partici-
pant In any war.
Conduct OF the War.
During the war President Wilson exhfb-
tied tie very broadcast conception OF lib
eral Americansm In hts conduct Of the
var. as In the general administration OF
MS high Office. there was no semblance
OF partisan bias Eie invited 70 Washing
ton as lis councillors and roadjutors hum
dreds or the most prominent ard pro.
rOunced Republicans iu the country To
these he committed responsibilities OF the
gravest import and mJst confidential ma
ture. Many OF ther had charge OF vital
activities % the government
And yet. with the war sucresssuiIv uros-
ecuted and gioriousIy eni led the RepJb-
Mean party In congress- FAR from an
eiaudng the mastery leadership Of tile
president and felicitating the country an
the amazing achievements % the Ameri
ear government. has neaulv reduiied tho
considerable course OF the chief magistrate
b. savugeiy defaping the commando III
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