The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-05
FAIRBANKS NOTIFIED.
ROOT ADDRESSES THE VICE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
And Tells Him Of His Nomination by
the Republican Conventton-Sena-
tor Fairbanks Accepts the Nomina-
ton I'm a Short Speech.

The following speech was delivered
yesterday by Hon Elihu Root. chair
man of the notification committee. ap-
pointed by the Republican national
convention, in notifying Senator Fair
banks of his nomination for the Vice
Presidency by the Republican party.
Mr.. Root said:
The committee which now waits upon
you was appointed by the National
convention of the Republican party held
at Chicago in June, and its agreeable
duty is to notify You of your nomina-
ton as the Republican candidate for
the office of Vice President of the
United States for the term to begin
on the 4th day of March. 1905.
We give you formal notice of that
nomination with assurance OF the undi-
vided and hearty support of the great
party which has executed the peoples
will in the government of this country
for The better>part of the last half CEN
fury. The nomination comes to you in
accordance with the best methods and
practices of representative government.
1t was the result of long and earnest
consideration and discussion by the
mber Of the convention. 1t was not
the chance product Of an excited hour,
and 1t was not upon the demand of any
powerful infiuence-political or other
MISUNDERSTANDING the judgment Of the
delegates. 1t was not made for the
purpose of co%nciliating possible malcon-
tents. or of swelling the campaign fund
Of the party. No bargains or intrigues
contributed to it. No suppressions of
the truth or misleading Of the conven-
ton as to your principles and opinions
were necessary to bring it about. 1t
was the deliberate. informed and intel
ligent judgment of the delegates from
every state and territory. and it was
their unanimous judgment.
1t is a great office to which you are
called. John Adams, and Thomas JEFF
ferson. and George Clinton. n John
{. Calhoun. n Martin Van Buren,, and
many others whose names are %illustri-
Gus in the history Of our country, have
filled it. 1t is an office of high dignity
and immediate, eve present impor-
lance. The credit and ono of our
country are greatly concerned in the
| character and conduct Of the man who
presides over the Senate of the United
~States-that powerful and august body,
| Of which you are already SO expert
enced. so useful n so honored a mem
| Der.
But the Vice President has other
raw duties of imperative obligation.
| When the people elect a President I'M
der our political system, they do not
merely select the man for the office:
they give their approval to certain con-
trolling principles and policies of gov
l eminent; and the administration Of
which the Vice President is a part is
bound to give effect to these principles
and policies. The primary duty Of the
| Vice President to be always ready to
take up the burden of the Presidency
If occasion requires. carries with 1t
| the duty to be always ready to con-
tinue unbroken the policies which the
people have entrusted to the admins
tration for execution. For the due per-
Torrance of this duty the Vice Presi-
dent should be familiar with the con-
duct of affairs by the administration
as it proceeds, a part of its counsels,
and imbued with a knowledge of its
labors, its pe~rpleXities and it's motives,
that can come only from intimate as
ISOLATION and confidence and sympathy.
Too often it has happened that after ex-
cited contests for the presidential NOM
ination the candidate for Vice President
a been selected from the defeated
faction for the purpOs of appeasing
their resentment, and that after cleo
ton he has remained ~antagonistic IN
spirit, and a Stranger to the counSels of
the President whom he may be called
upon to succeed. Happily we are now
in no such case. The people would fain
see again such relations Of sympathy
and loyal h~elpfulness for the public
good, as existed TIVE President Nc
Kinley and Vice President Hobart; and
the personal relations between Presi-
dent Roosevelt and yourself, your mu-
tuai esteem and good understanding
assure us that these happy conditions
will come again after the fourth OF
next March. We count upon your
wisdom and experience and loyal aid
nc on element Of cyor nraSant Stren OF n
in the coming administration.
AS to the supreme responsibility ol
the Vice Presidency in case of success
sion to the Presidency, we shall al
pray, and no one more earnestly thar
yourself, hat it may not come to you
But we are not at liberty to ignore the
possibility that it may come. Sad anG
bitter experience admOnishes us tina
provision for succession to the PreSi'
dency is no idle form. OF the las
twelve presidents elected by the people
OF the United States five-neariy one
half-have die in Office and have beer
succeeded Dy Vice President. a seriou!
obligation rests upon the political par
ties which select the candidates be
tween whom the people must choose
to see to it that they nominate men TO
this possible succession who have tn
strength of body and mind and char
acter which shall enable them, if occa
sion comes, to take up the burdens o
the great presidential office, to endur
it's trying and ~eXhausting demands, t
meet its great responsibilities, an
with firm hand and clear vision t
guide the government of the countr
; until the people can express thei
choice again.
= Our opponents of the Democrat
party have signally failed to perforr
l this duty. They have nominated Z
their candidate for the vice presidenc
an excellent gentleman, who was Dor
= during the presidency of James Nor
roe, and who before the 4th of Mare
= next will be in the eighty-second yea
;. of his age. Before the next admins
5 tration is ended, he will be approach
: his eighty-siXth birthday. 1t is +
= disparagement Of this gentleman, 4,
whom 1 believe We all have the niGf
est respect, to say that he shares ii
oa-oroa lof ~ n,orfo1C on6 that ~