The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-21

OuLGTOWJn possession of power. It is not desir- l able for any state to continue one limited group of men for many years in control of its affairs. The time is | leadership.
 During the Democratic admfnistra- | tion, we wrote great pages of history | which constitute an imperishab ble glory | that neither time can tarnish nor par tisanship can take awsAy. We did these things in the face of unparalled clamor.
 The Republican platform takes oc- casion to compliment the people of Connecticut upon the fact that 'Un- American public discussion is hush | ed.'" This is a curious and inadvert- power by most extraordinary con- spiracy and after having written one of the most deplorable pages of American history, those who produced the "Un-American discussion" are now gratified that it is hushed. Irony could go no further
 The Republican platform also says the national policies, plans or leader ship of the Democratic party. In this state. it has no leadership of a char acter to inspire the electors. I presume that the authors of this remarkable outgiving are radiantly confident that they are able to. make such a statement with impuntty so long as the Republican party in Con-
 necticut is blest with the patriotic and disinterested leadership of J. Henry Rorab back and Charles Hopkins Clark.
 repudiate the slurs implied by the thoughtless and ungenerous language of the Republican platform. It would be inso1ent if it were not pathetic, this piouS assumption of superior V1r- tue and patriotism.
 It justif1es Democrats in recalling the historical lineage of their party in both state and nation.
 We take pride in recalling the fact that the Democratic parry was brought into being under the mtn1strat1ons or Thomas Jefferson. We recall that it was given to him todraft the Dec laration of Independence, to make the
 early fights against privilege, to 1n- stitute great educational reforms, to found university and to add an em, pire to the territory or the Unlteo Purchase. He founded the Democratic party, he proclaimed its principles. and set it upon career or useIulness to humanity It has seen other parties arise, become great, decline and pass into oblivion. The Demo- cratic Party has survived them all and it was never more alive, ana nev- CT more needed, than it is today. The Republican Party, in its first platform long before it substituted Mark Hanna for Abraham Lincoln. tn- Jefferson and asked the people to re- | turn the Government of Washington and Jefferson.
 The Democratic Party recalls the | leadership of James Monroe, who gave | the Monroe Doctrine to the world, which through all the years since then and probably through all the years to come, will be a human1z1ng influence, drawing not only a whole continent but a whole hemisphere within the bonds of friendship and forming the very basis upon which international
 relations, if they are to endure, must | be built
 l And then there were the days of the
 great and indomitab1e Jackson; and | the days of Polk during which our
 country made extraordinary progress and vigorous days of Cleveland. And | then came Wilson, with that wonder | ful genius for leadership which en-
 ab1ed him to put through in such a | brief time an extraordinary program of remedial legislation and with the power to guide the country through
 the turmoil of the greatest struggle of all time.
 | It was his leadership, touched as it was by prophecy and certain aspects of spirituality which carried our coun- | try to greater heights of honor and
 power and glory than it had ever be- | fore known. Do we not still recall | the anxious days of the war, the strug-
 gle over the Selective Draft Law, the mobilization of industry, the financing | of great loans, the training of troops, l the transportation of millions of men | overseas amid unheard of perils the
 turning of the tide, the final victory | and through it all the informing spirit | of a consecrated leadership dedicating
 a nation to a great and holy purpose. | These were the days when the sword
 of America flashed as though the light
 of Heaven was upon it, and the states manship of America lifted up the hopes of stricken humanity every where.
 No has the Democracy of this State
 been without great leadership. As you cast your eye over the history of Connecticut, who were the great Gov
 ernors? What names instinctively
 the eloquent and splendid Governor
 Hubbard! Have we forgotten the
 courtly, dignifed and honored Inger-
 modest, efficient and capable Morris. Do we not remember the gallant
 struggles of that little giant of demo-
 cracy, Tom Waller, of New LondonI
 And what Governor has been given to
 this State who surpasses in intellectual
 achievements, in scholarship, in capa-
 city and in oundness-Simeon F. | Baldwin.
 These men, both of the State and
 the Nation. carry honorable names
 They will go down in the history of
 our country as great men who conse-
 crated their lives to public service and
 they were DemocratS-every one. , The Democratic Party is not with ; out faults-oh. many, many faults
 Any political party is at best but a
 poor instrument of government; but the Democratic Party has had the
 power in some strange and mysterious manner to produce great leadership
 and the ability to recognize such lead ership when it has arrived. Perhaps
 it was due to the original spirit 'o1 Thomas Jefferson, who taught the .. doctrine of equal rights to all and special privileges to none. That is not simply a political creed; it ex- ! presses the morals of a great party 1t is in very truth the religion o1 fraternity and that is why Democrat
 are never discouraged by defeat, fol they have the certain knowledge thai , to the best of their ability, they art trying to apply that great doctrine o1 ! human equality and that they are therefore, dealing with immorta , l things