The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-06-18
1.-THE FAITH OF THE FATHERS"

We reprint in another column an
editorial from the Florida Times
Union with the above caption.
1t will be seen that it comnends
President Marshall for what it
styles a patriotic utterance in calling
upon his fellow-citizens to a speedy
return to the faith of the fathers" or
"Old Time Democracy as many OF
the papers quote him as saying.
1t says that the ce-president's
urging is timely, especially when there
is a desire manifested to get away
from the solid bedrock of govern
ment as prescribed by the const1tu-
ton under which and by which the
people of the United States have be-
come the freest, the most enlightened
and most prosperous people of all the
world.
The editorial is very elegantly writ
ten; it reads smoothly; it is pleasing
to the ear, but it states no facts; it
cites no article of faith that has been
subverted; no bedrock provision Of
the constitution that has been repu-
dated.
So far as the editorial refers to the
democratic party we are glad tic say
that no evidence can be produced to
sustain the charge that it has wander
ed away from the teachings CT its
founders.
1t stands today as firmly and fixed
ly by the constitution as when it was
adopted.
1t has abandoned no article of its
creed and the constitution today is
held inviolate as the sheet 5nchor of
it's faith.
No president, no member Of con-
gress, no statesman Of the democratic
party has ever been accused of de-
ncuncing the constitution as being lin
league with the devil and a covenant
with hell"
Although the thirteenth, fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments were BE-.
lieved by many to have been irregular
ly ratified, the southern branch Of the
party made no murmer aud yielded to
their provisions witt the utmost
grace.
We are told that the ratth of the
fathers is the faith that is loyal, the
faith that is patriotic and the wisdom
of which will insure prosperity and
tranquility.
We claim that those whose faith
in the democratic party is mistaken
are as loyal, as patriotic, as 100 per
cent American as were it's founders.
For verification of this statement
we have only to refer to the zeal and
ardor which prompted the young men
of the south to enlist in the Spanish
A
and the devotion of it's women which
was excelled by none of the Nightin-
gales of history.
Having succeeded in carrying the
government through the greatest
crisis it ever confronted; succeeding
where so many prophesied failure, it
makes one weary to read the disatrib-
es about saving the government from
falling into pits it "would-be destroy
ers are digging
Can one hardly blame Lodge for his
hymn of hate?"
This ghostly bOguey was heralded
at a time when it was thought that
the supreme court of the United
States would set aside the prohibition
amendment to the constitution as de-
structive of the personal liberty of
le citizen and an invasion of the
sovereignty of the states.
Because the states are sovereign
and the voice of the people is supreme
is the very reason that this amend
ment was so unanimously upheld by
our highest tribunal.
The congress, the states and tn
court simply responded to very in
sistent and popular demand.
The vice-president and the Times
Union deal alone in generalities the
effect of which is to put words into
the mouths of the Lodges, the KnOxes
and the Penroses to hurl anathemas
against the democratic party and es-
pecially because its strength lies
chiefly in the south.
That is all there is to it. We re-
peat that it only furnishes a text for
Mr.. Lodges Hymn of Hate"
''Old Time Democracy" is not es-
sentially different from present dag
democracy