New-York tribune., 1920-06-29
Chairman Cummings Keynote Speech Democratic Convention

sible for the destruction of the ,n-
strument itself. 1t would be idle -.
inquire by what political legerdems;n
this meaningless and yet ominous
declaration was prepared. 1t is enorvh
to know that the ''old guard" sold r.
honor Of America for the privilege ~
nominating q reactionary for pres;.
dent.
"The war had set great task 70,
craftsmanship. The best thought of
tempt be made By the leaders of ;hs
treaty of peace which should prevent
the recurrence of war. Every right.
full impulse Of the human heart was IN
accord with that purpose. From time
immemorial men have dro@med Of peace.
poets have sung of it; philosopher
have written about it; statesmen have
discussed it; men everywhere have
hoped and prayed that the day might
come when wars would no longer be
necessary in the settlement OF inter.
national differences.
Calls League Project Feasible
"For the first time in the turbalen.
annals of the human race such a pro-
ject had become feasible The destruc.
tion of militarism, the crumblng Of
thrones, the dissolution of dynasties.
the worldwide appreciation OF the in.
ner meaning of war aud the final tri-
umph of democracy had at last made il
possible to realize the dearest dream
that ever crossed the night OF mans
dark mind. The opportunity for serv-
ice was as great as the need of the
world, and the failure to render it mus,
stand as a reproach for ell time.
at is said that If the dead who died
in the great war were placed head TO
feet they would stretch from New York
to San Francisco and from San Fran.
cisco back again to New York; and if
! those who perished from starvation
and from other causes collateral to the
war were placed head to feet they
would reach around the great globe
| itself. At this very hour millions of
men and women and little children are
the victims of our hesitancy. How can
the heart of America be closed to these
things?
81 have been many miles In this
country, and it has been my fortune to
visit most Of the states Of the Union.
! 1t has SO happened that I have been in
many of these states when the boys
were coming from the front. have
seen the great avenues Of our splendid
American cities lined with the popu-
lace, cheering and cheering again as
these brave lads marched by. happy
that they had come triumphsntly
home. But 1 have never witnessed
these inspiring sights without thinking
of the boys who did not come home.
They do not rest as strangers in a
| cn1J;orc 1< Itbar@.,
| The generous heart of France enfolds
them. The women and the children Of
France cover their graves with flowers
and water them with tears. Destiny
seized these lads and led them far from
home to die for an ideal. And yet
they live and speak to US here in the
homeland not of trivial things but Of
immortal things. Reverence and pity
and high resolve-surely these remain
to US. In that heart of hearts where
the great works of man are wrought
there can be no forgetting. Oh, God,
release the imprisoned soul. of America,
touch once more the hidden springs
of the spirit and reveal US to our.
selves!
Stands for Peace Ideals
"Lct the true purpose of our party
be clearly understood. we stand
. squarely for the same ideals of peace
as those for which the war was fought
We support without Ainching the only
feasible plan for peace and justice
We will not submit to the Reputation
of the peace treaty or to any process
by which it is whitfield down to the
vanishing point. We decline to com.
promise our principles or pawn ou,
immortal souls for selfish purposes
We do not turn our backs upon the
history of the last three years. We
seek no avenue of retreat. We insist
that the forward course is the only
righteous course.
eve seek to reestablish the fruits Of
victory, to reinstate the good faith Of
our countrv and to restore it TO Its
rightful place among the nations Of
the earth. Our cause constitutes a
summons to duty. The heart o.
America stirs again. The ancient faith
revives. The immortal part of mar
speaks for US. The services Of The
past, the sacrifices of the war, th'
hopes of the future, constitute {
spiritual force gathering about oul
banners. We shall release again tht
checked forces of civilization, ant
America shall take up once more the
. leadership of the world"