Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-07-08
DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL
PLATFORM

Inc Democrauc party, In It's natlona
convention now assembled sends greet
ings to the president of the United States
woodrow Wilson, and halls with patriots
pride the great achievements for countr,
and the world wrought by Democrats
administration under his leadership.
1t salutes the mighty people of thi
great republic, emerging with imperish
able honor from the severe tests ant
grievous strains of the most tragic wa
in history, having earned the plaudit
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 grea
work of translating these principles int
effective laws, begun and carried far b1
the Democratic administration and inter
rupted only when the war claimed all tht
national energies for the single task Of
victory.
League Of Nations.
The Democratic party favors the
League of Nations as the surest, If moi
the only, practicable means of maintain
ing the permanent peace of the world
and terminating the insutferable burden
OF great military and naval establish
ments 1t was for this that America
broke away from traditional isolation and
spent her blood and treasure to crush a
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 armisticG 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 of ma
lions must be formed under specific COW
enants, for the purpose Of affording mu-
tual guarantees of political independence
and territorial integrity to great and
small states alike"
vyn A..
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 a 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 cour-
age and his high conception of good faith
In steadfastly standing for the covenant
agreed to by all the associated and allied
nations at war with Germany, and we
condemn the Republican senate for it's
refusal to ratify the treaty merely be-
cause 1t was the product Of Democratic
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 justi-
ned in asserting that the honor of the
country is involved in this business; and
we point 70 the accusing fact that before
1t was determined to initiate political an
tagonism 70 the treaty the now Repub-
ncan chairman of the senate foreign re-
latlons committee himself publicly pro-
Claimed that any proposition for a sepa-
rate peace with Germany, such as he
ana his party associates thereafter re-
ported to the senate, would make US
guilty of the blacklist crime"
On May 10 last the Knox substitute for
the Versailles treaty. Inv he
Republican senate and this convention
can contf1Ve no more fitting characterize
ton OF its obloquy than that made in the
Forum Magazine of December 1918. by
Henry Cabot Lodge when he said:
IL we send our armies and young men
abroad TO be killed and wounded in north
ern France and Flanders with no result
but this, our entrance into war with such
an intention was crime which nothing
can justify"
The intent of congress and the intent
OF the president was that there could be
no peace until we could create a situation
where no such war as this could recur
We cannot make peace except in com
pany with our allies 1t would brand us
with everlasting dishonor and bring ruin
10 US also II we undertook to make a sep
arate peace"
Lodges Proposals Condemned.
Thus TO that which Mr.. Lodge. in saner
moments, considered 1.-The blacklist crime"
ne and his party in madness sought to
give the sanctity of law; that which eigh-
teen months ago was Of ''eyerlasting DIS
nonor the Republican party and its can
faith. "a
We indorse the presidents view Of our
international obligations and his firm
stand against reservations designed to
cut to pieces the vital provisions in con-
gress for voting against resolutions for
separate para peace which would disgrace the
a 70 49,
lncatlon of the treaty without reserva-
tons which would impair it's essential in
tegrity; but do not oppose the acceptance
OF any reservations making clearer or i
more specific the obligations of the United
states to the League of Nations Only
by doing this may we retrieve the repli. |
tation of this nation among the movers |
OF the earth and recover the moral lead /
eLsHlp Wnlch PRESIDENT Wilson won and |
which Republican politicians at Washing |
ton sacrificed. Only by doing this may |
We hope to aid effectively in the resto /
ration of order throughout the world and |
20 take the place which we should as
SHINE in the front rank of Spiritual com
nercial and industrial Advancement
we reject as utterly vain, IL not vicious
me Republican assumption that ratifica.
non OF the treaty and membership in the
League of Nations would in any wise
IMPAIR the integrity or Independence n
)ur country. The fact that the cove
1ant has been entered into by % nations
III as jealous OF their Independence "a |
We are OF ours, is sufficient refutatio
u such charge. The president repeatedly
las declared and this convention reaf
irms, that all our duties and obligations
L. a member of the league must be full
iued in strict conformity with the CON
utution of the United States. embodied
n which is the fundamental reouirenoant
4 declaratory action by the congress- he
ore this nation may become a partici-
)ant in any war.
Conduct Of the War.
During the war President Wilson exbtb-
TED the very broadest conception of lin
raj Americansm. In his conduct ~ tba
var, as in the general administration Of
lis high office, there was no semhIance
I partisan bias. He invited to WashinR-
~ as ms councillors and coadjutors hun
reos OF the most prominent and nro
ounced Republicans in the country IT,
nese he committed responsibilities ~ 4be
raVest import and most confidential no |
ure Many Of them had charge ~ vital
euvities Of the government. ga
And yet, with the war successfully nros-
cuteo ana glorlously ended the Repub-
can party In congress- far from an.
lauding the mastery leadership ~ 81.
resident and felicitating the country on
ne amazing achievements Of the Arnari-
an government, has meanly reolIjtad an
onsiderate course OF the chief r1agistrete |
y. savagely defaming the commander IN
nlet OF the army and navy, by assaiIing
early every public officer ~ a,,av-SS
ranch of the service intimafslv eoery
srned In winning the war abroad ana
lent at home. sN'sfH-
We express to the soldiers ana ,has ,
lilors Of America the adnnirafIon ~
ler IeiioW eountrymen. Guided BY