Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-02
DECL LARAT|0N
'-e-"' Of PRINCIPLES
Continued from page l

II salutes the mighty people of this
great republic, emerging with imperish-
able honor from the severe tests and
yricyous strains of the most tragic war in
history. having earned the plaudits and
the gratitude of all free nations.
IL declares its adherence to the funda-
mental progressive principles of social,
economic and industrial justice and ad-
vance, and purposes to resume the great
work of translating these principles
into effective laws. begun and carried far
by the Democratic administration and
interrupted only when the war claimed all
the national energies for the single task
of victory.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
The Democratic party favors the
League of Nations as the surest, If not
the only, practicable means of maintaining
the permanent peace of the world and
terminating the insufferable burden of
great military and naval establishments.
Ii was for this that America broke away
rom traditional isolation and spent her
blood and treasure to crush a colossal
scheme of conquest. 1t was upon this
basis that the President of the United
States, IN pre-arrangement with our
Allies, consented TO a suspension of hos
tlites against the imperial German
government, the armlstlce was granted
and treaty of peace negotiated upon the
definite assurance to Germany, MS well
as 10 the powers pltted against Germany,
that "a general association of nations
must be formed, under specific covenants,
for the purpose of affording mutual guar
antecs Of political independence and terri
torlal integrity to great and small states
al Hrpep v-a nnl,- conpr9tuiqtn
the President on the vision manifested
and the vigor exhibited in the prosecution
Of the war; but we felicitate him and his
associates on the exceptional achieve
ments at Paris involved In the adoption
of league and treaty so near akin to
previously expressed American ideals and
so Intimately related to the aspirations of
civilized peoples everywhere.
We commend the President for his
courage and his high conception of good
faith i'm steadfastiy standing for the
covenant agreed to by all the associated
and allied nations at war with Germany,
and we condemn the Republican Senate
for its refusal to ratify the treaty
merely because il WAS the product of DEM
ocratIc craftsmanship, thus interposing
partisan envy and personal hatred in the
way of the peace and renewed prosperity
of the world.
BY every accepted standard of inter-
national morality the President is iusti-
fed in asserting that the honor of the
country is involved in this business; and
we point 10 the accusing fact that before
1t was determined to initiate political
antagonism TO the treaty the now Re
publican chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee himself publicly
H., hot anry Cor
separate peace with Germany, such as he
and his party associates thereafter reported
to the Senate, would make us guilty of
the blacklist crime"
KNoN SUBSTITUTE INFAMOUS.
On May Is last the Knox substitute for
the Versailles treaty was passed by the
Republican Senate; and this convention
can contrive no more fitting character
ization Of its obloquy than that made in
the Forum magazine of December, 1918,
by Henry Cabot Lodge, when he said:
'lf we send our armies and Young
men abroad to be killed and wounded in
northern France and Flanders with no
result but this, our entrance into the war
with such an intention was q crime which
nothing can Justify
The intent of Congr SIS and the intent
Of the President was that there could he
no peace until we could create a situation
where no such war as this could recur
We cannot make peace except in company
with our allies. 1t would brand us with
everlasting dishonOr and bring ruin to us
also If we undertook TO make a separate
peace.
Thus TO that which Mr. Lodge in saner
momefts considered ''the blacklist crime"
he and his party In madness sought to
give the sanctity of law, that which
eighteen months ago was of everlasting
dishonor," the Republican party and its
candidates today accept as the essence of
faith.
We endorse the Presidents view of our
international obligations and his firm |
stand against reservations designed to cut |
TO pieces the vital provisions of the |
Versailles treaty and we commend the |
Democrats in Congress for voting against |
resolutions for separate peace which would /
disgrace the nation. We advocate the |
ratification of the treaty with /
out reservations which would impair its /
essential integrity: but do not oppose the |
acceptance Of any reservations making /
clearer or more specific the obligations of /
the United States to the league associates.
Only by doing this NAV we retrieve the
reputation of this nation among thepowers
OF the earth and recover the moral leader
ship which President Wilson won and
which Republican politicians at Washing
ton sacrificed. Only by doing this NAV
We hope 70 aid effectively in the restora-
fiCn Of order throughout the world and to
take the place which we should assume in
the front rank of spiritual commercial
md industrial advancement
We reject as utterly vain If not vicious.
the Republican assumption that ratifica-
on OF the treaty and membership in the
League OF Nations would In any way i'm
pair the integrity or independence of
our country. The fact that the covenan
has been entered into by twenty-nIne
nations, all as lealouscf their Independence
A. we are OF ours, Is a sufficient refutation
Df such charge. The President repeatedly
has declared. and this convention reaffirms,
hat all our duties and obligations as a
member OF the league must be fulfilled
n strlct conformity with the constitution
of the United States, embodied In which
Is the fundamental requirement of de-
rlaratory action by the congress before
-hls nation may become participant in
INV war.
SYMPATHY FOR IRELAND.
The great pnnciple of national self
has received constant re-
teration as one Of the chief detectives for
which this country entered the war and
,ictory established this principle.
Within the limitations Of international
,omity and usage this con yention repeats
he several previous expressions Of the
ympathv of the Democratic party of the
ed OF fn- h.. & 7