The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-09-28
Mr.. Fairbanks Letter,


President Roosevelts letter of accept
ance was such a comprehensive and COM
plete presentation of the issues of the
campaign and the recent record of the
Republican party that it left the candi-
date for Vice President very little to treat
independently. The platform of princi-
Piles adopted at Chicago, is, however,
common ground on which the views and
understandings of the candidate for Vice
President are pertinent and timely, and
to that mainly he addresses his letter OF
acceptance.
There are some features well worth
noting in the present canvass to which
Mr.. Fairbanks can better bear testimony
than Mr.. Roosevelt. He recalls that
though there have been two Administra-
tions in the last seven years, trade reports
may be consulted in vain to discover
where the one ended and the other began.
There was no violent break In policy or
practices. Mr.. Roosevelt carried out the
policy of his predecessor, meeting new
issues promptly aud courageously as
they arose. The national expenditure
increased during both administrations to
meet the rapidly expanding needs of the
Government. Large expenditures where
there are large needs is no reproach un-
less extravaganza, waste or dishonesty is
shown. The Democrats do not show or
attempt to show waste or dishonesty.
They merely point to the large appropri-
ations and ask that an unfavOrabe con-
| clusion be drawn from that alone. Mr.,
Fairbanks makes the sufficient answer:
ave have pursued no parsimonious pol
icy nor INDUCED in extravgance. We
have measured the public expense by the
public necessity"
Mr.. Fairbanks very appropriately in
corporates in his letter an appreciatiye
tribute to Mr.. Roosevelts successful Ad-
ministration. 1t has been an Admins
tration great in achievement. Mr.. Roose-
velts opponents do not deny this nor
question seriously the wisdom and bene-
fit of what has been accomplished. They
profess to fear so much energy lest it may
some time get Off the track. They prefer
the canal boat to the express train be-
cause even if the former went wrong it
could not 90 far wrong, This is not a
principle that appeals strongly to plain
people. They see no reason to distrust
the energy of an administration thst gives
us peace with honor, prosperity at home
and increased prestige abroad.
The two corner stone principles of the
Republican party are the protective tariff
and money. 1t is in vain to argue that
Democratic success will not imperil both
these. fthe Democrats are given the
power they will revise the tariff, and Mr..
Fairbanks very justly says of this grave
danger: "a revision and reduction by
those who regard the tariff as a robbery
must awaken serious apprehension
among all those whose capital is employed
or who are engaged at labor in the vari-
GUS enterprises throughout the country
which depend in large measure upon the
maintenance of the protective system"
This is but another way of saying that
those who would destroy are not the ones
to amend unless the country is prepared
to sacrifice the principle of protection to
American labor.
Shall the gold standard be entrusted to
those who have suspended their demand
for its abolition, but have never declared
in favor of its maintenance? Mr.. Fair
banks shows that the maintenance of the
parity fall our currency is at the mercy
OF hostile Congress, and may be endan-
gered by an unfriendly Secretary of the
Treasury. The protective tariff and the
gold standard are alike dependent on Re-
publican ascendancy. With the Govern
ment in Democratic control both are in
danger. 1t is playing with fire and sport
ing on the edge of the precpice tor be-
levers in protection and in a gold stand
ard currency to ignore this peril and vote
to have the country take chances on
these two fundamental matters.
That there is so little apprehension
manifested on these points is doubtless
due to the general conviction that the
Republican party will be maintained in
power, and that the principles and poll
cies of that party will continue to control
the Government of this country. With
Mr.. Fairbanks letter of acceptance added
to the Presidents and the earlier deliver
ances of both the Republican case has
been clearly and fully presented.