, 1900-09-18
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT 5 LETTER

Governor mas pIeschtcu
some facts which will keep the demo
Gratis answering till after November. q.
The most important of all problems.
says the governor, is, of course, that
OF securing good government and NOR
a, and material well being within u
borders. Great though the need IS
that the nation should do its York well
abroad, ever this comes second to the
thorough performance Of duty at
home. Under the administration of
President Mckinley this country has
been blessed with a degree OF prosperi-
ty absolutely unparalleled even in its
previous prosperous history. While it
is, of course, true hat no legislation
and no administration can bring about
success to those h are not stout of
yet 1t is no less true that the individual
capacity Of each man to get good re-
suits for himself can be absolutely de
stroyed by bad Legislation or bad ad-
ministration, while under the reverse
conditions the power is assured and
stimulated. This is what has been
lone under the administration of Pres
ident Mckinley. Thanks to his actions
and to the wise Legislation of congress
on the tariff and finance, the condi-
tions of our industrial life have been
rendered more favorable than vel be-
fore and they have been taken advan-
tage of to the full by American thrift,
industry and enterprise. Order has
been observed, the courts upheld, and
the fullest liberty secured to all citi-
zens. The merchant and manufac-
turer, but above all the farmer n
wage worker, have profited by this
state of things.
When our opponents champion free
silver at 16 to l they are either in
sincere or sincere in their attitude. If
sincere, they then are a n to the
welfare of the country. Whether they
shout their sinister purpose or merely
whisper it makes but little difference,
save as it reflects their own honesty.
No issue can be paramount to the is
II they thus make. for the para
mountcy of such an issue is to be de-
termined, not by the dictum of any
man or body of men, but by the fact
.l.4 a. ,;t,lI, fr,.,, A.. ..z1I l-... -.
every home in the land. The financial
question is always of such far-reaching
and tremendous Importance to the ma.
tional welfare that it can never be
raised in good faith unless this tremen.
dous importance is not merely conced-
ed, out insisted on. Men who are not
willing to make such an issue para,
mount have no possible justification
for raising it at all for under such cir,
/ cumstances their act cannot under any
conceivable circumstances do aught
but grave harm.
a Tho success of the party represent
ing the principles embodied in the
Kansas City platform would bring
about the destruction of all the condi-
fions necessary to the continuance of
our prosperity. IL would also unsettle
our whole governmental system, and
would therefore d~isarrange all the vast
and delicate machinery of u COM
plex industrial life. Above all, the eff
feet would be ruinous to our finances.
Il we are to prosper, the currency of
this country must be based upon the
gold dollar worth 100 cents. The sta
,bility of our currency has been great
~ increased by the excellent financial
act passed by the last congress. But
no law can secure our finances against
the effect of the unwise and disastrous
MANAGEMENT in the hands of unfriend-
II administrators.
a While paying heed to the necessity
OF keeping our house in order at home
the American people cannot, If they
wish to retain their self respect. re-
frain from doing their duty as a great
nation in the world. The history Of
the nation is in q large part the his