The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-09-15
PRESIDENTS LETTER
Nf. Roosevelt Writes The Committee
Defining His Position
he ASSUMES A FIRM ATTITUDE
The President Says 1t Is Difficult to
Flrd Out From the Utteranees Of
Our Opponents" What Are the
Peal Issues Upon Which They Pro.
Pose 20 Wage Their Campaign.

I'll" following is the substitute of
7. "nt RooseYelt's letter of accent
ono which is quite a lengthy docu-
nelt.
CEsier Pay. n. Y, Sept. II, 1904.
Hon J. G.. Cannon, Chairman OF the
E.Itiration Committee.
ST.. Dear Sir: accept the nomina-
ton fDf the presidency rendered me by
The Republican national convention,
AMI .ordiaily approve the platform
adopted by it. In writing this letter
t.~t" are certain points upon which
t.s.re to lay especial stress.
= is difficult to find out from the ut
t'ramros of our opponents what are the
r.aI issues upon which they propose to
Wa2" this campaign. 1t is not unfair to
say that. having abandoned most of the
!un"'ples upon which they have in
sisted during the last eight years. they
now s"em at loss, both as to what it
IS that they really believe. and as to
h0a firmly they shall assert their belief
in ANYTHING. In fact, it is doubtful If
they venture resOlutely to press a sin
&c issue. as soon as they raise one
they shrink from it and seek to explain
= away. Such an attitude is the prob
abi" inevitable result Of the effort to
!mprOvise convictions; for when thus
inprovised, it is natural that they
should Ee held in a tentative manner.
The party now in control of the gov
eminent is troubled by no such diff
cnities. We do not have to guess at our
own convictions, and then correct the
guess If it seems unpopular. The prin-
cip!es which VIC profess are those in
which we believe with heart and soul
alti strength. Men may differ from us;
hut they cannot accuse us of stiffness
or inSincerity. The policies we have
pursued are those which we earnestly
hold as essential to the national well
fare 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 legis-
lation during the last seven years, in
which we have had complete control Of
the government. We intend in the fu-
ture to carry on the government in the
same way that we have carried it on in
the past
A party whose members are radically
at variance on most vital issues, and if
united at all. are only united on issues
where their attitude threatens wide
spread disaster to the whole country,
cannot be trusted to govern in any
matter. A party which, with facile
ease. changes all its convictions before
election cannot be trusted to adhere
with tenacity to any principle after
election. A party fit to govern must
have convictions In 1896 the Republi-
can party came into power, and in 1900
it retained power on certain definite
pledges, each of which was scrupulously
fulfilled. But in addition to meeting
and solving the problems which were
issues in these campaigns, 1t also be-
came necessary to meet other problems
which arose after election; and it Is nc
small part of our claim to public conf
denCe that these were solved with the
same success that had attended the So
luton of those concerning which the
battles at the polls were fought. II
other words, our governmental eff
cheney proved equal not only to the tasl
that were anticipated, but to doing
each unantic1pated task as it arose.
When the contest of 1896 was decided
the question of the war with Spain wa
net an issue. When the contest OF 1870
was decided, the shape which the lsth
mian canal question ultimately too
could not have been foreseen. But tn
same qualities which enabled those re
sponsible for making and administer
ing the laws Of Washington to deal sue
cessfully with the tariff and the cuI
rency, enabled them also to deal wit
the Spanish war: and the same quall
ties which enabled them to act wlsei
in the Philippines, and in Cuba, also en-
abled them to do their duty as regard
the problems connected with the trusts
and to secure the building OF the lstf
mian canal We are content to rest on
case before the American people upo
the fact that to adherence 10 d loi'
ideal we have added proved govern
mental efficiency. Therefore. our Pre-
misses may surely be trusted as regard
any issue that is now before the peop
and We may equally be trusted to de-
with any problem which may hereaft'
arise
REPRESENTATION OF REPUf
LICAN POLICIES.
So we'll has the work been done III
our opponents do not venture TO rec1
the facts about our policies or acts, al
then oppose them. They attack the
only when they have first misrePresel
ted them; for a truthful recital wou
leave no room for adverse comment.
Panama offers an instance in poir
Cur opponents can criticise what
I'D in Panama only on condition
misstating what was done The adml
lstratiOn behaved throughout not on
with good faith, but with extraordina
Patience and large generosity towar
those with whom it dealt. 1t was al
mindful OF American interests. 1t a.
e. ed IN strict compliance with the IL
passed by Congress. Had not PanaL
been promptly recognized, and t
transit across the isthmus kept open,
accordance with o,r traatv rights a.