Evening star., 1936-06-10

dren the very foundation and corner
stone upon which rests the security
of civilization-the sacredness or q
promise.
How shall you teach your children
at home. at school, in the church.
that q promise is an inviOlable thing.
when the Government of the United
States and its Chief Executive treat
their solemn pledges as mere scraps
of paper?
Standing on the steps Of the Cap
itol. on March 4. 1893. Franklin Del
ano Roosevelt laid his hand on the
Holy Scriptures and, within the hear
ing of all America, repeated after the
Chief Justice:
Il, Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
do solemnly swear that I will
faithfully execute the ONCE OF
President of the United States,
and will. to the best Of my ability,
preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States,
SO help me God"
Two years went by. On July 5.
1885. writing to Samuel B. Hill Of the
House Ways and Means Committee.
to force the passage Of a New Deal
bill. President Franklin Delano RooSe-
welt said:
Il hope your committee will not
permit doubt as to constitutional
ity, however reasonable. to block
the suggested legislation"
Moral Issued Praised.
The Republican party. like every
other party. is made up of fallible
human beings. 1t has made mistakes:
it is not without blame But thank
God no Republican President has ever
so violated his constitutional oath by
calling upon the members of his party
in Congress to violate theirs! This
Is not a partisan issue: 1t is q moral
issue. We do not denounce it as Re
publicans but as Americans We bow
our heads in shame and sorrow.
I wish this speech of mine to be
free of traditional political denunci-
alton. But it is the duty of the party
in opposition to report to the people
on how the party in power has con-
Quoted their Government. I shall
make no charges. manufacture no
maledictionS. Out of their own
mouths comes their condemnation.
Here are the promises-from the
Democratic platform:
We advocate an immediate and
drastic reduction in Government ex-
penditureS by abolishing useless COM
missions and Offices. consolidating de-
partmentS and bureaus and eliminat-
ing extravagances to accomplish a
saving of not less than 25 per cent In
the cost of Federal Government. - -"
I'VE favor maintenance of the ma
tional credit by Federal budget an
nually balanced on the basis of accu.
rate executive estimates within reve-
nueS, ."
And these are not all Here are
some more Democratic promises Of
1882:
Sound Currency Pledge.
We advocate q sound currency, to
be preserved at all hazards"
I'VE advocate competitive tariff
for revenue, with fact-finding tariff
commission free from executive inter-
ference"
I'VE advocate strengthening and
impartial enforcement OF anti i-trust
laws. ." ="
IAN international economic
conference designed to restore inter-
national trade and facilitate ex-
change"
In that same platform the Demo-
cratic party demanded
The removal of Government
from all fields of private enter
prise. "
I'VE condemn the unsound
policy Of restricting agricultural prod
ucts to the demands of domestic mar
kets."
I'VE condemn the improper and ext
cessive use Of money in political activi<
ties"
Finally, that entire platform was
sealed with this solemn pledge:
I'VE believe that party platform.
is q covenant with the people. to be
faithfully kept by the party when en-
trusted with power ." ..... :
You will recall that Candidate
Roosevelt new to Chicago to accept
that platform 100 per cent.
Spending Rate Leaps.
But in fulfllfment of all these sol.
emn, pledges we find today Federal
spending at almost double the 1882
rate.
In fulfillment of the pledge of sound
currency. 1t has been made today .
criminal odense for any citizen Of the
United States to be In possession OF
monetary gold. Under the New Deal
every session Of Congress has had be-
fore it-And has approved in one or
both houses, In one form or another
KHsmaasnasU1aE