The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-09-23
RoosEkElT's LETTER
OF ACCEPTANCE
Vigorous Discussion of the Is
sues in the Presidents
Formal Document.
STANDING ON HIS RECORD
accounting What Has Been Done aid
Promising More of the Same Kind
Appeals That Issues Be Placed
Above Partisanshp.


made public. 1t follows:
oyster Bay, N Y, Sept r. Hon. j. G.
Cannon, Chairman of the Notiiica zion
Committee.
NY dear sir: accept the nomination
Tor the presidency rendered me by the
republican national convention, and cor
daily approve the platform adopted by
It, In writing this letter there are certain
points upon which | desire to lay especial
stress.
terences of our opponents what issues
they propose. Having abandoned most
OF the principles upon which they have
insisted fo1 eight years, they now seem at
they shall assert their belief
me party now in control does not have
to guess at its convictions, and then cor
rect the guess if it seems unpopular. The
principles which we profess are those in
which we believe with heart and soul
ard strength. Men may differ from US;
DEt thcy cannot accuse US of stiffness Or
1nslncer.ty. The policies pursued hold es-
sGntlal TO the national welfare. We base
our appeal upon our record of seven years
control. We intend in future TO carry on
the government as in the past.
- party radically divided on most vital
issues. and united if at all. only on issues
70 the country cannot be trusted. A
party which changes its convictions before
eiectlon cannot be trusted after election
In 1896 the Republicans came into power
ana in 1900 retained power. on certain
definite pledges each scrupulously full
tllled., 1t met other problems, that were
solved with the same success.
Charge Not Specific.
Our opponents do not recite the facts
ABOUT oo1 our policies or acts, and then OPP
pose them. Panama offers an instance
our opponents can crit.cise only on con-
dltlon OF misstating what was done. The
a az t1a.G behaved with good faith
patience and generosity toward those with
Whofn It dealt. 1t acted in strict compli-
ance with the law. Had not Panama been
promptly recognized, and transit across
the lsthmus kept open, there would have
ensued guerilla warfare. and possibly for
sign complications; while the canal would
nave been deferred, for years. perhaps
generation. The criticism is simply of
the only possible action which could have
secured the canal. The service rendered
IN securing perpetual right to construct
operate and defend the canal was so great
mat our opponents do not raise that ISSUE
Inc decisive action which brought about
tins result was the exercise by the presi-
Gent OF the powers vested in him, by the
constitution, TO recognize foreign govern
ments, make treaties, which, when ra titled
hy the e senate, become law. Nor has there
peen the slightest failure to live up to the
constitution The constitution must be OBJ
served positively as well as negatively
The presidents duty is to serve the coun-
Try, and should be derelict if l used
false construction of the constitution as
shield for weakness. or excuse for gov
ernmental impotence
or our opponents in regard to our foreign
policy and navy. We ask that they truth
fully state what has been done and then
say whether they object to it; for if con-
tinued In power we shall continue our for
elgn poicy and handling of the navy on
exactly the same lines. Do they object
Enheld? Never before has this doctrine
been acqu.esced in abroad as it is now
ana , yet while unfolding the rights of the
weaker American republics against for
&c
lost no opportunity to point out to these
repi,d o that ., those who seek equity
whoever Claims liberty must accept the
responsibilities that go with the exercise
OF the right. Do our. opponents object to
Roumania, or in behalf of the Armenians?
DO our opponents object to the fact that
the tribunal at the Hague was rescued
instrument TO" peace? This government
has used that tribunal to promote peace
ey al honorable methods. 1t has settled
agreement. 1t has behaved towards all
nations, with courtesy and justice; and it
is now on excellent terms with all.
Policies Are Defended.
Do our opponents object to the Alaska
settlement? Or to the fact that we gave
cuba reciprocal trade, while keeping naval
stations and providing against its sink
ing into chaos, or being conquered? Do
they object to the acquisition of Hawaii?
once they "hauled down" our flag there;
we have hoisted it again; Go they intend
once more to haul it down? Do they OBJ
Ject to the part we played In China? Do
they not know that the voice of the United
states would now count for nothing in
the far east if we had abandoned the Phil
.ippines and refused to do what was done
in China? Do they object to the peaceful
settlement of the troubles in Venezuela?
DO they object to the presence of the ship
oof-War off Colon when the revolution
broke out in Panama, and when only the
t1,, Q
American citizens, and prevented insult
to the flag? Or that the visit of a SQUAD
ron to Smyrna was followed by con-
scession of just rights to Americans in
Turkey. Do they object to the trade
treaty with China, full Of advantage for
America, Do they object to the fact that
( the vessels carrying the national flag now
have higher standard than ever before
in craftsmanship and seamanship? If
they object e. to any of these things. We join
Pension order No. rs, directed that any
veteran Of siXty-two should be presump-
lively entitled to six dollars month, I'M
should be that that ~ physical gicslu'n6 disal
was made in the performance Of duty
imposed by act of congress, which re-
quires the executive to govern the pension
office IN determining who are entitled to
pensions. President Cleveland had al
ready made regulation that seventy
FIVE should be the age of which total dis
ability. Mckinley, established sixty-five
as the age of half. disability. The
regulation now in question in the exercise
of the same power supplemented these.
The Pension Order.
1t is common knowledge that when the
average man has reached siXty-two his
earning ability Is less by half than when
ably lost all earning ability. Let the
doubter examine the employees in any fac
tory or en- any railroad, and find out how
and seventy, ard whether these are still
employed al the highly paid tasks which
they did in their prime. AS matter of
fact, many railroads pension their en-.
ployes when they have reached these ages,
and in nations, where old age pensions pre-
vail they always begin somewhere within
come into power they can revoke this
order and treat the, veterans of sixty-two
to seventy as not entitled to pensions.
VIII they now state that they intend to
do this? II so, we accept the issue. ~
In certain quarters our opponents make
every effort TO show that the settlement
and the Northern Securities. suit were inn
proper acts. They dare not formally
say either was wrong. Some complain
because under the antitrust and inter-
state laws suits were undertaken; others,
because suits were not undertaken which
would have been unsuccessful. The dem
thracite strike by demanding that the
b government take possession of the coal
& fields: yet they now condemn the action
by the president tina prevented the move
ment for national ownership from gaining
/ what might well have been an irresistible
impetus.
On vital questions ouropponents take the
4 position that silence is the best way to
& convey their views. They contend that
their lukewarm, partial acquiescence in
what others nave accomplished entities
financial honor and commercial interests
\ which they recently sought 10 ruin. Be
ing unable 70 agree whether the gold
standard Is curse or q blessing they
avoid the