Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-01
~sE BOLD; BE NOT TOO BOLD"

"eE BOLD; BE NOT TOO BOLD"
"'Be bold; Be not too bold.!' Yet
better the excess than the defect"
What Is now >bothering the Demo-
Gratis Is whether little more Of bold
ness in handling that Khan plank
would not have been better.
It might we'll perplex an assem-
blage capable of more profound
thought than the Democratic ma
tional convention is supposed-or
appears-to be, Mr.. Pattangall, al
though very eloquently and convince
ingly pleading for the clause which
would have called the hooded order
by name does not appear greatly
downcast because his wife in his alb
serce voted against doing so.
There were rumors abroad that the
Klansmen in the convention would
have seeded had the Khan been
named. This seems improbable, as
to have done SO would have revealed
their membership in the order. which
they were SO careful not to do. that
none raised his voice on behalf Of
his order. rather an embarrassing pre-
dicament to be in.
Mr.. Bryan based his opposition on
the opinion that naming the Khan
would serve to advertise 1t and 80 in
effect prove a boon to 1t. One well
may, question whether naming the
Khan in the platform would in any
degree have lessened its influence.
Those questions 1t is difficult to de-
,ternine by argument. pro or con.
Had the Democratic platform called
the Khan by name might there not be
there established a precedent obliging
ilt. should occasion arise, to call some
other Objectionable organization by
name?
The Khan attitude Of both great
parties Is now based on the Constitu-
ton, a sound basis. The first amend
ment to 1t specifically provided:
Congress shall make no law respect
ing an establishment Of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
The Republicans at Cleveland were
content to say: 1.-THE Republican
party reaffirms- its unyielding devo-
ton to the Constitution, and to the
guarantees Of civil. political and re-
ligious liberty therein contained" 1t
could have taken no firmer stand.
though it might have gone more into
detail. The Democratic party in its
pla form has said in effect no more.
In so far as the Khan methods con-
fiicf with the Constitution-or for
that matter the methods of any polit-
zeal secret organization, founded or
diverted to political effort-by 80
much are they unAmerican. Unless
the popular view has changed. they
will in process of time be known and
recognized. When that day comes,
their end is in sight. II the temper Of
the. American people shall be like
what 1t has been. Reason will reas-
sert itself, even among the members
Of the offending organization. It 10
inctedible to suppose that the Khan
has become the boosted menace 1t 10
said-to be and be wholly made UP
Of unAmericans, or of those who
hate this country and would destroy
its beneficent institutions. And in
all their benefcence there may be
found none greater than religious
liberty. Moreover. there Is no test
which may be applied to our gov
eminent more corrosive and degen-
Grating than religious intolerance, by
whomever shown. There have been
few lapses from general recognition
of these undying truths. and those
were short-lived.
While cultivating patience It might
be well not to overlook the patent
fact that Khan and anti-Klan senti-
ments. have been the tools Of politi-
clans at the New York convention.
Some of those who have been stimu-
lated to hatred and bigotry will hnd
It hard to cool off, but IL should ex-
pedite the process to consider that
they have in quite a degree been
made monkeys of in the interests Of
political fortunes in the making.