New-York tribune., 1904-09-12
TIE PRESIDENTS LETTER.

The Presidents formal letter Of acceptance,
prescribed by custom, is published this morn
ing. His opponents, perceiving that il is long.
will probably he foolish as To pretend that
it lacks strength; but if ii had been short they
would have been equally anxious to make it
appear superfuous. The truth is they have
been expecting it TO increase their troubles, and
in that respect, whatever they may say. they
will not be disappointed. II some Republicans,
on the other hand. have been inclined 10 regret
that usage did not permit their candidate to
rest his the remarkable speech of ac-
ceptance which he made six weeks ago. and
which has been making votes ever since, they
will now rejoice with all the others In the main
tenance of an ancient precedent. Exactly
suited 10 the resolute, aggressive spirit of the
party is the boldness with which the President
presses home his argument from first TO
last. The letter is necessarily less compact
than the speech of which it is ampli-
tcation. and for that reason it may not
produce the effect Of verbal pungency which
distinguished the earlier utterance; but hos.
tile critics will look I'm vain for a paragraph
which IL would have been wiser 10 omit while
fair minded readers will acknowledge the skill
with which every Democratic weakness has
been exposed and the thoroughness with which
every Republican position has been covered.
The force Of the Republican appeal comes
from the fact that the party has nothing TO
conceal from the voters. It's candidate finds a
pleasure and an advantage in throwing upon
its record all the light at his command and
invoking the closest scrutiny of its promises
The principles which we profess arc those in
which we believe with heart and soul and
strength" The policies we have pursued are
''those which earnestly hold as essential TO
''the national welfare and repute." I'VE intend
ssiv- rla el,N
'the same way that we have carried il on in
''the past" No Democratic orator even though
he possess the blind courage of a mugwump,
will dare 10 pretend that the position so de
fined is evasiye or equivocal. There the party
stands. and is proud 10 stand. Our adversaries
must either confront us on that ground or run
away
That the enemy have made up their minds 10
take the desperate chance of winning bv con-
fession and avoidance is already apparent
Having abandoned most Of the principles upon
which they have insisted during the last eight
years. they now seem at a loss, both as TO what
1T is that they really believe and as TO how
firmly they shall assert their belief in anything
"In fact it is doubtful if they venture resolutely
10 press single issue; as soon as they raise
zone they shrink from it and seek 10 explain il
away. Such attitude is the probably nevita-
bile result Of the effort to inprovise convictions
for when thus improvised it is natural that
they should be held in a tentative manner"
Hence their sordid concessions 10 expediency-
deFision of free silver advocates in Maine and
Vermont, obsequious patronage of Bryan in
Western States, cautious cultivation of anti
imperialist sentiment in this part of the coun-
try, time musttell professions or dead silence
concerning that subject on the Pacific Coast.
kind words for the "rohber tariff" in protection
TnrJ
to the trusts according 10 environment
The Presidents letter is entirely Cispa ssiou-
ate and courteous as becomes a nartv leader
who is Chief Magistrate or all the people. hut
lis pointed questions invite an honest search.
ing of hearts. Which of all the governments
foreign policies which Democrats condemn I'm
terms general or explicit would they reverse
If they should come into power? Is there one
from continuance OF which they would not
seek 10 derive credit for themselves? They call
the President bellicosc and pretend 10 shudder
at warlike prospects of their own invention
In what particular would they modify. with or
without apologies consistent course of action
which has commanded assurances of the high
est respect and good will from all the world?
mere is not policy. foreign or domestic
which we are now carrying out which It would
not be disastrous 10 reverse or abandon II
our opponents should come in and should NOT
reverse our policies. then they would bo brand
ed with the brand Of broken faith. of faJsa
promise, OF insincerity in word and deed; and
no man can work to the advantage of the ma
uon with such brand clinging TO him. That
Is an iDdisputable fact IF on the othar hand
they should come in and reverse am, ar oil 90
our policies, by just so much would the nation
as whole be damaged That is the bonest
frankly proclaimed belief of the Republican
party, and every day supplies new evidence that
the American people will declare it 10 be theirs
IN November and make the next four wears
secure.