The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-10-04
ROOSEvELT'S RINGING
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
A Document Breathing with the Life
Of Patriotism and National
Duty.
vital ISSUE DECLARED TO BE PROSPERITY
Government the Philippines by Tagalogs Would Be Equiv
alent 10 Government in America by Indian Tribes
New Duties and Problems for the Nation.

Gov. Theodore Roosevelt has complet-
ed the formal acceptance OF the Repub-
llcan nomination for Vice-P President. His
letter bears an Oyster Bay date and is
directed to Senator Howard q. Wolcott
Of the notification committee. 1T reads:
To Edward O. Wolcott, Chairman
Committee ON Notification Of Vice Presi-
dent--Sir: q accept the nomination as
President OF the United States, ten
dered me by the Republican national con
yention, with a very deep sense OF the
honor conferred upon me and with an In
fnitely deeper sense Of the vital impor-
lance to the whole country OF securing
the reelection Of President Mckinley
The nations welfare is at stake. We
must continue the work which has been
so well begun during the present admins
tration. We must show in fashion I'M
capable OF being misunderstood that the
American people, ut the beginning OF the
twentieth century, face their duties in
calm and serious spirit; that they have
no intention Of permitting folly Or law
lessness to mar the extraordinary mate
rial well ibeing which they have attained
at home, nor yet OF permitting their nag
to be dishon0red abroad.
Fears Disaster if Democrats Win.
I feel that this contest lis by no means
one merely between Republicans and
Democrats. We have right TO appeal
to all good citizens who are far-sighted
enough to see what the honor and the
interest of the nation demand.
TO put into practice the principles em-
bodied in the Kansas City platform
would mean grave disaster to the nation;
for that platform stands for reaction and
disorder; for an upsetting OF our imam
cial system which would mean not only
great suffering but the abandonment Of
the nations good faith; and for policy
abroad which would imply the dishonor
Of the flag and an unworthy surrender of
our national rights. Its success would
mean unspeakable humiliation to men
proud of their country, jealous Of their
country's good name, and desirous of Sc
curing the welfare of their fellow-citi-
gems. Therefore, we have n right to APP
peal to- all good men, North and South,
East and West, whatever their politics
may have been in the past, to stand with
us, because we stand for the prosperity
OF the country and for the renoWn Of
the American tiag.
Pros perity the Great Issuc.
The most important of all problems Is,
Of course, that OF securing good govern
ment and moral and material well-being
within our own borders. Great though
the need is that the nation should do its
work well abroad, even this comes second
to the thorough performance OF duty at
home Under the administration Of Pres
ident Mckinley this country has been
blessed with a degree of prosperity alb
soi1teiy unparalleled, even in its preNi-
GUS prosperous history.
While it is, of course, true that no leg
islation and no administration can bring
success to those who are not stout OF
heart, cool OF head and ready of hand,
yet it is no less true that the individual
capacity OF each man to get good results
for himself can be absolutely destroyed
by bad legislation or bad administration,
while under the reverse conditions the
power OF the individual to do good work
is assured and stimulated. This is what
has been dome under the administration
of President Mckinley. Thanks to his
6CllUuS &ua W Lire MlSS ltSlSfiiliOs1 u
Congress ON the tariff and finance, the
conditions OF our industrial life have been
rendered more favorable than ever be-
fore, and they have heen taken adyan-
tage of to the full by American thrift, in
dustry and enterprise. Order has been
observed, the courts upheld and the full
est liberty secured to all citizens. The
merchant and manufacturer, but above
all the farmer and the wage-worker have
prohted by this state Of things.
Dependent on Financial Question.
Fundamentally and primarily the pres
emit contest is contest for the continue
ance Of the conditions which have told
In favor Of our material welfare and Of
our civil and political integrity. If this
nation is to retain either its well-being
or its self-respect it cannot afford to
plunge into financial and economic chaos:
It cannot afford to indorse governmental
theories which would unsettle the stand
ard OF national honesty and destroy the
integrity Of our system Of justice.
The policy of the free coinage Of silver
at ratio Of 16 to / is policy fraught
with destruction to every home in the
land. 1t means untold misery to the
head Of every household, and, above all,
to the women and children OF every home.
AS to Democratic View on silver.
When our opponents champion free
silver at 16 to they are either insincere
or sincere in their attitude. If insin-
cere in their championship they, of
course, forfeit all right to belief or sup
port ON any ground. II sincere, then they
are menace to the welfare of the coun-
try. 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 issue fkey thus make, for the par
amountey OF such an issue is to be de-
termined not by the dictum OF any man
or body Of men, but by the fact that it
vitality affects tie weli-being of every
home in the land.
The financial question is always of such
farreaehing and tremendous Importance
to the national welfare that It can never
b raised in good faith unless this ire