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war had set a great task for statesmanship.
The best thought of the world demanded
that a serious attempt be made by
the leaders of the allied governments
to formulate a treaty of peace which
would prevent the recurrence of war.
Every rightful impulse of the human
heart was in accord with that purpose.
For the first time in the turbulent
annals of the human race, such a project
had become feasible. The destruction
of militarism, the crumbling of thrones,
the disillusion of dynasties, the
worldwide appreciation of the inner
meaning of war, and the final triumph
of democracy, had at last made it
possible to realize the dearest dream
of man since the dawn of civilization.
We had a right to expect the sympathetic
support for such a policy from all
patriotic Americans, quite irrespective
of political affiliations.
At this critical
juncture in human affairs, Republican
leadership completely failed. In
the face of the greatest problem
in the world, Republican leaders
saw fit to remember only that they
were Republican. Many times in history,
men have had an opportunity to speak
for the freedom of a people or of
a country, but never before, since
time began, have statesmen been
afforded the opportunity to speak
for the freedom of the world.
Let the true
purpose of our party be clearly
understood. We stand squarely for
the same ideals of peace as those
for which the war was fought. We
do not propose to submit to the
whittling down of the peace treaty
to the vanishing point. We stand,
without flinching, in support of
the only feasible plan for peace
and justice. We seek to apply the
principals of humanity to the problems
of the world. We are neither discouraged
nor disheartened by the difficulties
with which we have to contend. We
do not turn our back upon the history
of the last three years. We seek
no avenue of retreat. We insist
that the forward course is the only
righteous course. We decline to
compromise our principles, or pawn
our immortal souls for selfish purposes.
We rely upon the people of America.
They are craving for a renewed demonstration
of the ideals that are to pervade
the prophecies of world adjustments
and domestic relationships. They
seek for an expression of their
own spirit of liberalism -- of the
high progressive aspirations which
are astir everywhere throughout
the world.
Our cause
constitutes a summons to duty. We
seek to reestablish the fruits of
victory. We seek to reinstate the
good faith of our country, and to
restore it to its rightful place
among the nations of the earth.
To lose an election fighting for
such a faith is not a defeat, it
is a triumph that carries with it
the immortal garland of victory.
But we shall not fail. The heart
of America stirs again -- the ancient
faith revived. The immortal part
of man speaks for us. The services
of the past, the sacrifices of the
war, the hopes of the future, constitute
a spiritual force gathering about
our banners. We shall release again
the checked forces of civilization,
and America shall take up once more
the leadership of the world.
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