The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-09-15
ROOSEVELT'S LETTER OF AC-
CEPTANOE.

Theodore Roosevelt's letter to Hon.
Joseph G. Cannon, chairman of the
notification committee, accepting the
nomination of the Republican Nation
al Convention for the presidency, is
made public.
In opening Mr.. Roosevelt makes a
simple statement of acceptance and
loyalty to the Republican platform he
then discusses the is sues of the cam
psign in frank and truly Roosevelt.
tian manner He speaks of the diff
Guilty of finding from the utterances Of
the Democratic party the real issues
upon which they Will wage the cam
paign, and says it is not unfair to say
that, having abandoned most of the
principles upon whi5h they insisted
during the past eight years, they are
now at a loss as to what they really
believe, and as to how firmly they
she'll assert their belief in anything
On the other hsud he says:
1.-The party now in control of the
government is troubled by no such
difficulties. We do not have to guess
at our own convictions, and then cor.
rect the guess if it seems unpopular.
The principles which we profess are
those in which we believe with heart
and soul and strength Men may
differ from us; but they cannot accuse
MS of thickness or insincerity. Tie
policies we have pursued are those
which we earnestly hold as essential
to the national welfare and repute.
Our actions speak even louder than
our words for the faith that is in us.
We base our appeal upon what we
have done and are doing, upon our
record of administration and legisla-
ton during the last seven years, in
which we have had complete control
of the government. We intend in
the future to carry on the government
in the same way that we have carried
it on in the past. -
Continuing. he defends the party
from the criticism of the Democrats,
particularly the charge Of unconstitu-
tional action regarding the recognition
of the Republic of Panama and the
canal treaty, and says:
Neither in this nor in any other
matter has there been the slightest
failure - live up TO the Constitution
in letter and in spirit. But the Con-
situation must be observed positively
as vel. as negatively. The Presidents
duty is to serve the country in accord
ance with the Consultation; and |
should be derelict in my duty if 1
used a false construction of the Con-
stitution as shield for weakness
and timidity, or as an excuse for gov
ernmental impotence.
OF the Monroe doctrine aud the ad-
ministration's foreign policy in gener-
al he says:
"Never before has this doctrine been
acquiesced in abroad as it is now
and yet, while upholding the rights
OF the weaker American republics
against foreign aggression, the ad-
mlnIstration has lost no opportunity
to point out to these republics that
those who seek equity should come
with clean hands, and that whoever
claims liberty as a right must accept
the responsibilities that go with the
exercise of the right. Do our oppo-
nents object TO what was done III ref
ereuce to the petition of American
citizens against the kishenev mass
acre? o. to the protest against the
treatment of the Jews in Roumania?
or to the efforts that have been made
in behalf of the Arme mans in Turkey?
No other administration in our his
tory, no other government in the
world, has more consistently stood for
the broadcast spirit of brotherhood in
our common humanity, or has held a
more solute attitude of protest
against every wrong that outraged the
clvlIlZatlon OF the age, at home or
abroad. Do our opponents object to
the fact that the international tri-
bunal at The Hague was rescued from
impotence, and turned into potent
instrument for peace among the ma
tions? This government has used that
tribunal, ana advocated it's use by
others, in pursuance of its policy to
promote the cause of international
peace and good will by all honorable
methods. In carrying out this policy.
it has settled dispute after dispute by
arbitration or NY friendly agreement.
1t has behaved towards all nations,
strong or weak, with courtesy, dig
nifty, and Justice; and it is now on
excellent terms with all. "
Mr.. Roosevelt concludes this sub
ject as follows:
Our loloiRu policy nos uoon uoo
only highly advantageous to the
United States, but hardly less i'd
vantageous to the world as whole.
Peace and good will have followed in
its footsteps. The government has
shown itself no less anxious to re-
spect the rights of others than in
sistent that the rights of Americans
be respected in return. AS for the
navy, il has been and is now the most
potent guarantee of peace and it is
such chiefly because it is formidable,
and ready for use. ~
Then considerable space is devoted
to the much herslded encroach-
ments by the President upon the
authority of Congress or the judiciary.
Pension order No. 1877, granting PEN
sions to veterans who have reached
certain ages, has been pointed to as
the most glaring example of these en-
croachments. This order is thoroughly
explained and the President closes his
discussion of the subject by saying: