Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-06-29
The Democratic Partys
Obbortun1ty to Vim
. HE Democratic convention at San Fran

- HE Democratic convention at San frdh-
cisco this week faces an inspiriting
opportunity both for national service
and for party success 1t faces an epoch pur-
dened with pressing problems and country
eager for leadership. If Democracy Will out
chow itself wise enough to interpret the is
. sues of the time and courageous enough 10
meet them, the decisive forces OF American
citizenship will muster to its support.
Leadership of this character is now the
more needful and the more eXped1ent because
the Republican powers that be have fallen so
egregiously short of a great partys obIga-
tions The Chicago convention, ruled as IL
was by backward-looking elements, produced
platform quite appropriate to the political
doldrums of some thirty years ago, but as III
suited to these changeful and momentous
days as barnacled oyster boat would be for
mid-ocean surges or the duties of man-ot-
war AS for the candidate, agreeable gen
tleman though Senator Harding is, MS
stanchest promoters do not pretend that ne
is other than one of their partys lesser
lights in no wise comparable to Root or Taft
or Hughes; honest, good-natured, handsome
and cOnservative-yeS very, very conserVa-
tive-but chiefly notable for his acceptabil1ty
to politicians who take their law and gospel
from Wall Street. In such policies there IS
no light for these troubled times and in such
puppetries no leadership. In vain does any
great group or liberal interest of the people
look to the Republican organization for guild
ance or sympathy or assurance.
It is Democracy's privilege to answer these
disappointed hopes and provide bread OF
.nprogress where the party of Harding and Pen
rose and Lodge offers but a stone. The
obvious and only cue to the San Francisco
convention is for a platform that will hearten
the Liberals and for a candidate who will
rally them. It is to them alone that De-
mocracy can look for support in those doubt
full and pivotal States where Presidential
elections are won and lost. Moreover, it is
to the Liberals of both parties as distin-
guished from Radicals and Standpatters, that
the country can look for happy solution of
its present problems and for prosperity with
peace. The best prop of the BolsheVist and
the most dangerous fuse to war is he who fails
to see that the world of today is not the
world of Mark Hanna's time the world
of 1914. We must think forward and go
forward, or we shall go down. We must
recognize the fresh obligations Of American
government and American citizenship, must
realize the larger duties which this republic
owes the cause of international justice and
peace, or we shall fail as citizens and fail
as nation. The Democratic convention will
do well and wisely to the extent that it trans
lates this principle into definite policies and
pledges, not evading practical issues as the
Republicans did, but grasping them resolute-
ly and with genuinely Democratic purpose.
A convention imbued with this spirit can
hardly err in it's choice of candidate. The
list of availables includes such achieving and
dependable men as William G. McAdoo Gin
case he is not indeed self-eliminated), Cover
nor Cox, of Ohio; Ambassador Davis, Secre-
tary Meredith and Senator Glass. But
whether the nominee be one of these or some
one now unconsidered, the party, acting true
to itself and to the country, can take courage
and go forward with the confidence of one
that truly serves.