Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-07-08
DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL
PLATFORM

L
was adopted by the Democratic nation
al convention without change. The
document is'as follows:
The Democratic party, In its national
convention now assembled. senos greet-
woodrow Wilson, and halls with patriotic
pride the great achievements for country
and the world wrought by q Democratic
administration under his leadership.
great republic. emerging with imperish..
able honor from the severe tests ana
grievous strains Of the most tragic war
In history, having earned the plaudlts
and gratitude OF all free nations.
1t declares its adherence to the funda-
mental progressive principles OF social,
economic and Industrial justice and ad.
vance, and purposes to resume the sIeat
work of translating these principles into
effective laws, begun ana carried far by
the Democratic administrator ana inter-
rupted only when the war claimed al! the
national energies for the single task OF
victory.
, League Of Nations.
The Democratic party favors the
League Of Nations as the surest, II not
the only, practicable means OF maintain,
Ing the permanent peace OF the WoIlo
and terminating the insufferabie burdeh
of great military and naval establish
merits It was for this that America
broke away from traditional isolation and
spent her blood and treasure to crush
colossal scheme Of conquest.
1t was upon this basis that the presi-
dent of the United States, in prearrange-
ment with our allies, consented to sus.
pension of hostilities against the imperial
German government; the armlst1ce was
granted and treaty of peace negotiated
upon the definite assurance to Germany, as
well as to the powers pitted against Ger
many, that "a general association or ma
tons must be formed, under speeihc COW
enants, for the purpose of anordlng mu-
tual guarantees of political independence
and territorial integrity to great ana
| small states alike"
Hence we not only congratulate the
| president on the vision manifested ana
| the vigor exhibited in the prosecution OF
| the war, but we felicitate him and his
p, associates on the exceptional achieVe-
ments at Paris involved In the adoption
! of league and treaty SO near AKIN 10
| previously expressed American Ideals anu
SO intimately related to the aspirations
| Of civilized peoples everywhere.
| We commend the president for his cour-
| age and his high conception of good faitn
| in steadfastly standing for the covenant
| agreed to by all the associated and allied
| nations at war with Germany, ana We
condemn the Republican senate Tor lts
| refusal to ratify the treaty merely pc
cause 1t was the product OF Democratic
craftsmanship, thus interposing partisan
envy and personal hatred in the way OIL
the peace and renewed prosperity OF the
world.
BY every accepted standard Of inter-
national morality the president is lustl-
fled in asserting that the honor OF the
country Is involved in this business; anu
we point to the accusing fact that, before
1t was determined to initiate political an
tagonism to the treaty the now Repup-
lican chairman Of the senate foreign re-
lations committee himself publicly pro-
claimed that any proposition FOR sepa.
| 70 Germany.
and his party associates thereafter re-
ported to the senate, would make vi
guilty of the blacklist crime"
III On May Is last the Knox substitute foi
the Versailles treaty was passed by the
Republican senate; and this conVentlof
can contrive no more fitting characterize
ton of its obloquy than that made IN tn'
III | Forum Magazine of December, 1918, o.
Henry Cabot Lodge when he said:
III "lf we send our armies and young mel
abroad to be KILLED and wounded in north
III ern France and Flanders with no resul
III but this, our entrance into war with sucl
III an intention was crime which nothlni
III can justify
The intent of congress and the inten
III of the president was that there could b
III no peace until we could create situation
ii where no such war as this could recuI
Ill We cannot make peace except in com
III pany with our allies. 1t would brand
with everlasting dshonor and bring rui
Il to us also If we undertook to make a sep
arate peace"
Il Lodges Proposals Condemned.
Thus to that which Mr.. Lodge, in sane
III moments, considered 1.-The blacklist crime
he and his party In madness sought I
| give the sanctity of law; that which eigf
teen months ago was of Everlasting di:
honor" the Republican party and Its cal
didates today accept as the essence {
Il faith.
We indorse the presidents view of OF
International obligations and his fir
stand against reservations designed
cut to pieces the vital provisions in col
eress for voting against resolutions 4
separate peace which would disgrace Il
nation. We advocate the Immediate ra
ifcatiOn of the treaty without reserv
tons which you'd impair Its essential Il
tegrity; but DO not oppose the acceptan'
OF any reservations making clearer
iii more specific the obligations Of the Unit
|ltl States to the League of Nations. On
by doing this may we retrieve the rep
tation of this nation among the powe
III of the earth and recover the moral lea
ership which President Wilson won 81
I'M which Republican politicians at Washin
ton sacrificed. Only by doing this mi
ii we hope to aid effectively in the rest
III ration Of order throughout the world a.
ii to take the place which we should q
sume in the front rank of spiritual, col
wercial and industrial advancement
Hill We reject as utterly vain, IL not vic!o1
the Republican assumption that rattle
vi League of Nations would in any wi
impair the integrity or independence
our country The fact that the COZ
= nant has been entered into by 20 natio
all as jealous of their independence
we are of ours, is a sufficient refutati
. of such charge. The president repeated
IA has declared. and this convention re;
M | firms, that all our duties and obligatio
MI as a member of the league must be f
N. filed in strict conformity with the CC
iii stitution of the United States, embodi
iii in which Is the fundamental requiremt
iii Of declaratory action by the congress
fore this nation may become parta
iii pant in any war.
Ill Conduct Of the War.
During the war President Wilson exh
HI tied the very broadcast conception of
III eral Americansm. In his conduct Of (
war as In the general administration
II his high office, there was no sembIci
OF partisan bias He invited to WASN'T
III ton as his councillors and CONDUCTORS h,
III dreds Of the most prominent and p
iii nounced Republicans in the country.
these he committed responsibilities of
iii gravest import and most confidential
|IHI ture. Many of them had charge Of vi
Hi activities OF the government
HIN And yet, with the war successfully pr
III ecuted and gloriously ended. the Rep
III lican party in congress, far from
lNI plauding the mastery leadership of
iIII president and felicitating the country
'IIE the amazing achievements OF the AM
I'LL can government, has meanly requited
Vii nnuaida~nfa course of the chief ma RiafY