of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 151

security was merely a subject of discussion; to the day when labor was denied
its fundamental rights, when stock exchange manipulations and financial leger-
demain were the order of the day; when the helpless unemployed were given
the freedom of starving under local supervision without an act of Federal
intervention. The Republican office-seekers may desire the return of that day
but 27, 000, 000 voted the other way about three years ago, and 27, 000, 000
Americans can't be wrong.

In referring to the situation abroad, it is unnecessary for anyone to remind
you that the ideal of democracy is on trial for its life today on the battle
grounds of Europe. It is unnecessary for anyone to point out to you, as well-
informed people, that the ground we walk on every day is the only place on
earth where the great-grandsons of free men are still free and still at peace.

We have no right to be smug about it; no right to take these things for
granted. Too often we are apt to suppose that democracy was a native product
of the North American continent and that we merely fell heir to it as we did
to all the other vast resources which have made us the most fortunate nation
in the world. What we are tempted to forget is that our governmental systems
and political philosophies and very habits of thought as to civil liberty and
personal freedom became American by processes of evolution and that we must
guard them jealously in order to keep them from being twisted out of shape.
We will have no one to blame but ourselves if the Democratic Party is not kept
continuously refreshed and re-vitalized to meet the conditions in this changing
world as they occur—and the world doesn't stand still.

Again referring to history, we have definite evidence of the differing ob-
jectives in various periods striven for by Democratic leaders from the day of
Jackson until the present time. On January 8th, one hundred and twenty-five
years ago, Jackson won his great victory at New Orleans. Against great odds
he triumphed over the veterans of Wellington and the conquerors of Napoleon.
Records of that engagement show that in the preliminary assault Jackson was
supported by only 1, 500 men and bested an enemy of 7, 000. The great climax
came on January 8th, which marked the end of foreign invasion of our soil.
But more than that Jackson, through military efforts, had secured permanently
the absolute independence and security of this Country on land and seas. This
great Democrat, as a warrior, had brought success in the second war for our
independence. All of this was accomplished through extraordinary military
efforts.

Today, the Democratic Administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt is giving
unmistakable evidence of its desire to use every means and method known to
it to insure the peace of the Country. Our people today are essentially peace-
loving. They are as one in the conviction that difficulties and differences under-
lying wars abroad are not of our doing and are none of our business. Not
being responsible for the squabbles of European countries, we are not going
to "pull anybody's chestnuts out of the fire. "

Every parent in America will agree that the life of one red-blooded Ameri-
can boy is worth more than all the raw materials, booty and prized lands which
form the basis of conflicts between our neighbors across the seas. The present
Democratic Administration, with President Roosevelt as its spokesman, is
striving valiantly to maintain peace for the Country. It is a fortunate thing
that in such a crisis as the present, an experienced and courageous person is in
the White House and that he is aided by such an able Secretary of State as