Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-21
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Where John ". Davis
3, q.
Stands (

In his speech accepting the Democratic nomination
for the Presidency Hon John w. Davis took Arm
and statesmanlike stand on the Klan issue.
This is what he said:
his brief outline of the views and purposes of the
party as understand them might well serve all the
demands of this occasion, but in the platform have
adopted find further declaration concerning which
HAVE W. TAKEN OCCASION 10 REAFFIRM OUR BE.
LIEF IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES
OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND TO DEPLORE
AND CONDEMN ANY EFFORT FROM WHATEVER
SOURCE TO AROUSE RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS DIS
SENSION IN THIS COUNTRY. Such declaration
every right thinking American must indorse.
mo DISASTER THAT THE MIND CAN PICTURE
EQUALS IN ITS HIDEOUS POSSIBILITIES the com.
ing in this country of separation of its citizenship
into dscordant groups along racial religious lines
Nothing would so utterly destroy our happiness and
security at home and dignity and influence abroad
Let us thank God with reverencethat those who build
ed the inheritance enjoy dealt with that question
and settled it long ago.
Let it be said as to the immortal glory of those who
founded the Province of Maryland that religious free
dom this side of the water began with the federation
act which they adopted in 1649 1t broadened with
the years until it written into the Constitution in
language too plain to be mistaken that in this happy
land of every man might. without loss or threat
of oss without lessenng or threat OF lessenlng his
civic, social political rights worship IN his way
and fashion the one God and Father of us all. This
liberation not only to the creed professed by
majority but to every creed matter how numerous
or how few its adherents.
"IT WAS WRITTEN, TOO. THAT CHURCH AND
STATE SHOULD BE FOREVER so FAR SEPA-
RATE that neither the right nor the duty of public
service should be diminished enlarged by the re-
gious belief of any 1t is the solemn duty Of
every believer in American institutions to oppose any
challenge of this sacred doctrine organized or unor
gained, under whatever name or in whatever charac
ter it may appear.
From one who aspires to the Presidency, however,
declaration even more direct than this may right
fully be expected. wish, therefore, not merely to
denounce bigotry intolerance and race prejudice as
alien to the spirit of America, wish also to state how
and in what way the views entertain are to influence
my actions Into my hands will fall, when am elected
the power to appoint thousands of persons to Office
under the Federal government When that time ar
rives shall set up no standard of religious faith or
racial origin qualification for any office. My only
query concerning any appoinee will be whether he IS
competent whether he is faithful to the Constitution.
No selection to be made by will be dictated inspired
or influenced by the creed of the appolntee'
Every right-thinking Democrat every rightthink-
ing Republican, every right-thinking citizen can en-
dorse that statement. Maine should endorse it on
September 9Th.
DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE
By CLAYTON E. EAMES, Secretary.