New-York tribune., 1904-08-13
Has NO SOUND THINKING.
Parker's Speech Marked By Errors
of Fact, Says 4. III. Walcer.
= Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Ex-Judge ParkeT's speech accepting tbs
Democratic nomination for the Presidency is Just
Iv subject to numerous criticisms many OF which
are made In your editorial Of to-day. 7 write to
point out some faults IN that speech not men
toned IN that editorial but which constitute note
worthy indications OF the present condition OF Hx-
Judge Parker's mind
In the first paragraph OF his speech he states that
he resigned the Office OF chief judge OF the Court
OF Appeals in order TO accept the Presidential nom
ination without possible prejudice to that court
or 10 the eminent members CT the judiciary OF this
State. But the truth IS that his real reason for
restSnins the ONCE OF chief judge consisted IN the
fact that the constitution OF New-York prohibits
Judges from receiving votes for other than judicial
Offices Judge Parker could have continued 70 noa
the office OF chief Judge until March T. ls0o without
any prejudice to that court or to any member OF
the judiciary OF this State; but In that event
whatever electoral votes might have been cast Tor
him IN New-York for President OF the United
States would have been void
In the second paragraph OF his speech ex-Judga
Parker states that he sent his gold telegram so
that hereafter no man could Justly say that his
support had been secured through mdlFecuon or
mistake" But the sending OF that telegram can
never have that effect. in respect Of any OF those
dslegates to the ST. Louis convention whose VoIeS
were given to him before that telegram vas sent
hut which would never have been gwen 70 nun q
All n that telegram had been sent before those
votes were given
Tbs third paragraph OF his speech contains nearly
i've hundred words in its four sentences; and ths
second Of those sentences alone contains over t"o
hundred words. Those four sentences contain .
number OF errors OF rhetoric and a number OF
commonplace plattudes. but they co not CONTAIN
any original idea whatever
The fourth paragraph OF his speech IS pettsr llAl
the third IN respect OF its English out Il Is "osS
in respect OF its ideas because II implies Wi'nou'
,rovtns that ths limitations OF the Constitution
ss0fF fF,~ia
plish that which to them seems good whether ths
power exists IN them or not This charge - qul's
out Of place in the speech, unless II was aimed -
president Roosevelt; and he IS undoubtedly the
.ofHciar' at whom It was aimed But sucn a
charge or tnnueudo ought not to have been made
~, sv-Judge Parker without some stated or known
eo,,Ddatfon cs fact: and such foundation OF
fact Is stated IN tbs speech or Is known 20 'n9
public. -.
Parker states that statutes have been set asids
a. unconstitutional when it was difficult 10 point
o1t the provision said 70 be offended against n
their enactment" and that this has been done u
disregard OF tho fact that ours is governments g
laws This means that the Supreme court O'
the United States. when adjudgins that sons
statute or other vas unconstitutional did not uaS0
that Judgment upon its construction OF tAe Coi
sitution but made its decision in "dlsfes@-u ~
the Constitution. This innuendO against tl7 ..
Dren,e Court OF the United States is idenuca ~
so,srj,,, Win that made I'm the fourth paragraph
sgsinsi the President of the United states ena y
- als0 Identical Herewith IN Its desLL~t0N -
stated or known foundation - .t,t Tn
The sixth paragraph OF his speecn STATES -1-s
natieuCs of the restraints or law IS oSSO'it ~
aaTd more manifest from day 10 day; out ~ +
example thereof which the eX-JdCse HeHiJtj tbe
said bv him TO consist in the fact thar Wll.lb -,
last few years many supposed CrlIll4-s ~ ~ ra1s
soi-e4 and punished by mObS. But many sNe.-
have occurred in this country every yea ~o-s
century or more, and no such event mas any -Ser
rsIsvancy to the Presidential election ILL ,.o1s
crimes have which. when they occur a1e ''o-
Of the laws Of the States. -ivsz an
The seventh paragraph OF his speech - -ol.
account OF the recent history or GRIPPE Clesonca
s15 states that that history presents some
~ the failure Of government 10 protect me Tot
s15 Ms property. But eX-JuGge Parker tuss onv
show claim that those n9tlelS ~N
raIevancv to the Presidential election. a-.s N
She eighth paragraph OF his speech IS conLAo ~
an attempt to define the difference oeiMSS" - AZ
Dublil. and a monarchy: but the deI'I''io" .6at n
GIdgs Parker Is curiOUsly erroneous; n - 80. AZ
states that monarchy Is 'SuStalnsG oN - other
erted bv an Individual uncontrolled oy @TrLfs vii
tLsC those made or sanctioned by him w. for
- nsvrs to William II. and also TO EdWast 49, Nav
tSoss monarchs have heretofore supposed S.,S thst
we're subject to constitutional IN ,ts world
ts a point upon which every scholar N '-'
STha|s are ten more paragraphs in the SoeeC5 tbs
7 would 20 through them all as I.aNS -, mint so
ojS-.S ~ could venture to ask you 20 y. .-sis
long letter as would result. But VII sIIrnriss
80 saw that e1-Judge Parker's speech ~ va = ~ ths
a,J Zen an establishment TO me by 1850 '.t,T-fng
sbSaCcs therefrorn OF sound and origllltt tEsren
s1d aIso bv reason OF the excessive sv5 other
OF coInmOnpIaee Platit"des.r e5TeFs rr y n WSLTE,
FsrIS Row Building. New-York city. Aus -