Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-09-22
PRESIDENT ROOsEVELTS LETTER.
Philadelphia Press.

President Roosevelt's letter of accept
ance is a powerful and commanding pro-
duction. AS an intellectual performance
il is one of tho best he ever did, and takes
high rank among the masterpieces OF
American political literature. Whether
regarded as a political polemic or as an
elevated State paper it is equally admir-
able. If we are attracted by its contro-
yersial ability we are no less pleased with
its breadth of discussion and its loftiness
of tone. The whole argument Of the Re-
publican campaign, offensive and defen-
Give, is compressed within its searching
and comprehensive pages. In every part
it shows the insight of the thinker and the
grasp and decision of the leader.
At the very outset the President stands
forth as political gladiator lie Is az
gressive, penetrating and confident. lie
is as relentless in showing up the contra
dictlons and insincerity of the OppUsltion
as he is in exposing the hollowness Of their
objections to Republican administration
With cutting truth he remarks: ut IL not
unfair to say that having abandoned most
of the principles upon which they have In
sisted during the last eight years, they
now seem at loss both as to what 1t is
that they really believe and as to how
firmly they shall assert their belief In any
thing" In contrast 1--WE do not have to
guess at our own convictions and then cor
rect the guess if it seems unpopular"
With such keen epigrams the President
laws bare the weak and uncertain attitude
of the opposition. The Administration
on the other hand, has shown its strength
as much in meeting unexpected emergen.
cies as in dealing with the problems that
were anticipated. The President conf
IDENTIFY res,s the appeal on an unimpeach'
able record.
Having shown the contrast between the
general flabbiness of the one side and the
strength and rectitude of the other, the
President proceeds to particular questions.
The opposition cannot critlcise without
misrepresentiDg. Panama Is Gaze IN
point. The President crystalizes the whole
issue in few telling sciences, and his vim
dication will silence eaptiousness. He Wig
orously grappes with every animadver-
sion on bis action on foreign matters, and
in a series of striking and pungent ques-
tons be sets forth at once brilliant record
and benefcent activity and the futility OF
objections. These passages constitute a
fine example Of RHETORICAL exposition and
argument. Every sentence is a snapper
and cuts 20 the quick.
The President avoids no point that has
been made against him. He takes up bis
pension order, and not only justi6es it on
precedent and merit, but crowds the lssne
home by challenging the opposition TO
ayow that, in the event of their success,
they will revoke it. In the same frank
way he.deals with the covert attacks on
bis action in the anthracite coal strike and
the Northern Securities merger. Nothing
is evaded, nothing extenuated, nothing
left ID doubt Every question is faced and
the answer is triumphant. In passing
from points of criticism to large policies
the President is no less direct and even
more thorough. The weakness of the OPP
position on the gold standard is presented
with great cogency. They have haliIngly
acquesced in the Republican settlement,
but in a government of party nothing is
settled if the party of the policy is unset
tied. The Presidents answer to Judge
Parker Oh the trust question knocks out
his foundation. Judge Parker said that
the common law is the legal remedy. The
answer is that "there is no common law
of the United States" 1t has no place In
the federal courts. The judicial cadldate
stumbled even on the law. and when 1t
comes to the record all the facts are with
the Administration.
In the protection of American citizens
the Administration has made brilliant
showing, and the tables are effectually
turned on the critics. The treatment OF
the tariff question by the President is par
ticularlY strong and impressive. His ex-
position of the solidarity of interests on
the part of the farmers and manufactur-
ers is luminous and convincing, and pre-
sents the protective policy az the bulwark
equally of the agricultural and the indus-
trial elements. The maintenance of this
policy is vital, and the success OF party
which denounces protection as robbery"
would be deadly blow at the prosperity
of the country. This does not eignify that
schedules must always remain untouched.
Conditions change and laws should be
modified to fit new exigencies; but any
change should be in harmony with the
principal and made by the friends of pro.
lection.
The Presidents letter was written be-
fore Judge Parker's speech of last week
on government expenditures was made,
but it could not have been more complete
and crushing reply if it had been written
as a direct answer. The chargeIof extrav-
apance is shown 20 be unfounded, and it
10 nroved that no essential reduction of ex-
penditure could be made unless the OPP
position proposed to cut off rural free de-
livery and other vital public necessities.
Finally, the Presidents discussion of the
Philippine question is conceived in the
Hottest spirit of true craftsmanship and
carried out with an eloquence and power
which will command the approving judg-
ment Of the country. He exposes the In
consistencies, incongruities and dangers OF
tha Dar,ocratic nropOgals which would |