Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-04
AMID CHEERS
fcontinued from page -

Q1SCuASlOn
vention. It was not the chance PROD
uct of an excited hour, and 1t was not
upon the demand Of any powerful IN
fuence-political or otherwise "con-
straining the judgment OF the deie-
yates, 1t was not made for the pur-
pose Of conciliating possible malcon-
tents. or of swelling the campaign 1und
of the Party. No bargains or in
trigues contributed to it. NO sup
pressions of the truth or misleading OF
the Convention as to your principles
and oDinions were necessary to bring
II about. 1t was the deliberate, in
formed and intelligent judgment OF the
delegates from every state and terri-
tory. and It was their unanimous 1udg-
ment.
II Ia a great office to which you are
called. John Adams, and Thomas Jer-
ferson, and George Clinton. and John
G. Calhoun, and Martin Van Buren,.
and MANY others whose names are IL
mstrious In the history Of our country,
have filled 1t. II Is an office Of hign
dignity and immediate, ever present
Importance. The credit and honor or
our Country are greatly concerned IN
the character and conduct of the man
who presdes over the Senate of the
United States-that. powerful and au-
gust body, Of which you are already 80
experienced, so useful and SO honored
member.
But the Vice-President has other
grave duties of imperative obligation.
he a President
der our political system, they do not
merely select the man for the office;
they give their approval to certain
controlling principles and policies or
government; and the administration
of which the Vice President is 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
II occasion requires. carries with it the
duty to be always ready to continue
unbroken the policies which the people
have entrusted to the administration
for execution. For the due perform
ance of this duty the Vice-President
should be familiar with the conduct OF
affairs by the administration as 1t pro-
ceeds, a part of it's cOunsels, and im-
bued with a knowledge Of its labors,
its perplexities and its motives. that
can come only from intimate associa-
ion and confidence and sympathy. Too
often it has happened that after ex-
cited contests for the presidential NOM
fnation the candidate for Vice-Presi-
dent has been selected from the de-
fn4 nf n
peasing their resentment. and that at
ter election he has remained Antagonist
tic 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 helpfulness for the
public good. as existed between Presi-
dent Mckinley and Vice-President Ho-
bart; and the personal relations be-
tween President Roosevelt and your
self, your mutual esteem and good un-
Outstanding assure us that these happy
conditions will come again after the
fourth OF next March. We count upor
your wisdom and experience and loyal
aid as an element Of everpresent
strength in the coming administration
Az to the supreme responsibility OF
the Vice Presidency in case Of success
sion to the Presidency. we shall all
pray. and no one more earnestly than
yourself. that 1t may not come to you.
But we are not at liberty to ignore the
possibility that 1t may come. Sad and
bitter experience admonishes US that
vlSin fnr IN "a IL
dency is no idle form. OF the last
twelve presidents elected by the peo-
pie of the United States five-nearly
one half-have died I'm office and have
been succeeded by Vice-Presidents. A
serious obligation rests upon the politi-
cal parties which select the candidates
between whom the people must choose.
to see to 1t that they nominate men for
his possible succession who have the
strength of body and mind and charac-
ter which shall enable them, il occa-
sion comes, to take up the burdens of
the great presidential office, to endure
its trying and exhausting demands, to
meet its great responsibilities, and
with firm hand and clear vision to
guide the government of the Country
until the people can express their
choice again.
Our opponents of the Democratic
Party have signally failed to perform
this duty. They have nominated as
their candidate for the Vice-Presidency
an excellent gentleman. who was born
during the presidency Of James Monroe,
and who before the 4th Of March next
will be In the eighty-second year of his
age. Before the next administration is
ended. he will be approaching his
eighty-siXth birthday. 1t is no dis
arrangement Of this gentleman, for
whom l believe we all have the highest
respect. to say that he shares the COM
mon lot Of mortals, and that the cleo
ton Of any man of such great age
would furnish no safeguard to the
American people against the disaster
which would ensue upon the death Of a
president with a successor not COM
petent to perform the duties of the
presidential Office. 1t Is common ex.
perience that very aged men, however
bright and active they may appear fol
1,r;a do in