The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-09-01
SECRETARY FITS I'D
DRESS.
A Strong Presentation of the Republi-
can Cause. Other Addresses.

liar pleasure In responding TO the IN
vitation Of the Republican COMM ttee
to speak IN Vermont, because this is
the State where my father, Alphonso
Taft, was born, and to which he
looked with fondest memory and re-
turned when he could, with the great
est pleasure. There is Freemasonry
between Vermont men that does not
exist, so far as my observation goes,
between the citizens of any other
State. The struggle with adverse con-
ditions. the strong fibre of mind and
body which such contest develops
in your men and women, the common
sense and independence of thought
and action which the simple and pure
life in this State engenders, and the
sense of Obligation that every son of
Vermont feels to the community in
which his character was formed, bind
Vermonters to each other with hooks
of steel, make them safe and sane,
and possibly explain why there are so
few Democrats among them. While
am not a son of Vermont, L am proud
to be able to say that | am grandson
of this State of glorious memories, in
which the footprints indicate the pres
ence not only of giants of yore bat Of
giants of today"
Mr.. Taft spoke at some length on
the nature of and the kind of the gov
ernments of the EARTH the questions
presented at the elections in repub.
lican government, discussed the money
question, the evolution of sound
finance from the political conflicts of
1896 and 1900, and came to the con-
sideration of the party platforms in
the pending national canvass. The
Republicans, he said, had not changed
their platform at all. 1t stands now
for what it stood in 1896 and 1900.
On the other hand the Democratic
party, on the money question now
says nothing, while its candidate an
nounces that that question has been
settled, although against his vote, and
that the gold standard has been ire
vocably established by the Republican
administration of the last eight years
The platform denounces the policy of
protection as a policy of the robbery
of the many for the benefit of the few
and demands revision of the tariff.
The candidate announces that such a
revision is impossible in the next four
years, because the Senate will remain
in the control of the Repu blicans, 10
that the declarations of the party and
q
statement that as to the tariff no
change can be expected at the hands
of the Democratic party In their
declarations as to the trusts, the two
parties do not differ radically, bat the
candidate of the Democratic party,
Judge Parker, ascrlbes their growth
to the tariff, and then admits that
nothing can be expected from his
party in the reduction of the tariff
during the next four years.
In its diverse elements and contra
dictory demands, the platform is
truer representation of the Democratic
party, party having no solidarity,
uniting elements as unmixable as oil
and water. Should they ever be elect
ed to power, the administration would
become as nerveless as man stricken
with paralysis, because the radical
difference of opinion between the ele-
ments that make up the party would
be so great as to produce perfect stag
nation in legislative provision for the
emergencies which might raise. The
Democratic party today is nothing but
organized incapacity. Neither ele-
ment of the party would have sense
of responsibility strong enough to
overcome it's antagonism to the prin-
ciples upheld by the other faction,
were it to come into power.
Mr.. Taft further disclosed the in
efficiency of the party by reference to
its tariff legislation under Cleveland,
a much stronger personality than Mr..
Parker, when the party was split in
twain and became as helpless as
sick man.
The record of the Republican party
and the success which has attended
its administration of the government
are so remarkable, and unassailable,
the Democrats now seek to attack the
President, but when Theodore Roose-
welt is attacked for being a strong
headed tryant, obstinate in his pride
of opinion, and failure to listen to
argument, L am in a position to know
of what / speak. In all my experience
l never have met man in authority
who has less pride of opinion in the
judgments that he has formed in res
pect to situations presented to him for
action than has Theodore Roosevelt.
| have never met a man who was SO
amenable to reason. so anxious to
reach just conclusion, and so willing
to sacrifice previously formed opin-
ion as the present President of the
~ ilOOh SpatOb. liO has
quickness of apprehension and Been-
ness of perception. He weighs every
argument which is brought before
him, and if by reason of the limpid
character of his nature, which leads
him to speak as The thinks, he gives
instant expression to an opinion
which subsequent lacts show him to
be erroneous, ne changes. as only
han can change who is an earnest
seeker for the truth, with the SINGER
est desire to do right. He is not a
tryant but he is leader. Does the
American nation object to this?
Light IS made of his views of siren
uous life. lie does believe in siren
uous life. He does believe in doing
things. He does not belong to the
nil admirari class that find no func-
tion in life save to stand by and critl-
else those charged with responsibility,
who are undertaking to lead ON to
progress and higher civilization.
He Is lover of physical and mental
exercise. He believes that a man who
is given brain and muscle is charged
with the responsibility of making the
most of them and of doing as much
with both as nnssihla for his fellow.