The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-12
CHARGES THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY WITH INSINCERITY
Devotes Much Attention to the Tariff
and Lauds the Present Admin
istration for Its Great Ac-
complishments.


Hon. j. G. Cannon, Chairman OF the Noti-
fication Committee.
My Dear sir-I accept the nomination
for the presidency rendered me by the
Republican national convention, and cor
dially approve the platform adopted by
it, In writing this letter there are GER
tan points upon which I desire to lay
especial stress.
1t is difficult to find out from the ut
terances of our opponents what are the
real issues upon which they propose to
wage this campaign. 1t Is not unfair to
SAY that, having abandoned most of the
principles upon which they have insisted
during the last eight years, they now
seem at a loss. both as to what it Is that
they really believe. and as TO how firmly
they shall assert their belief in anything
In fact, it is doubtful II they venture
resolutely to press a single issue; as soon
as they raise one they shrink from 1t and
seek to explain II away. Such atti-
tude Is the probably inevitable result OF
the effort to improvise convictions; for
when thus improvised it is natural that
they should be held in a tentative man
ner.
The party now in control of the gov
ernment is troubled by no such difficult
tiles. We do not have to guess at our
own convictions, and then correct the
guess If 1t seems unpopular The prin-
ciples which we profess are those in
(which we believe with heart and soul and
strength Men may differ from us; but
fhey cannot accuse us of stiffness or In
Rre those which we earnestly hold as es-
Bential to the national welfare and re-
pute. Our actions speak even founder
than our words for the faith that is In
AIS We base our appeal upon what we
have done and are doing, upon our re-
cord of administration and Legislation
during the last seven years. In which we
have had complete control of the gcv-
ernment We intend in the future to
Barry on the government in the same way
that we have carried it on In the past.
Cannot be Trusted.
A party whose members are radically
at variance most vital issues and II
united at all, are only united on issues
where their attitude threatens wide
spread oisaster to the whole country
cannot be trusted to govern in any mat
ter. party which, with facile ease
changes all its convictions before cleo
fion cannot be trusted to adhere with
tenacity to any principle after election.
"A party fit to govern must have convic-
lions In 1896 the republican party came
Into power, and in 1900 it retained power
on certain definite pledges, each of which
was scrupulousy fulfilled But in addi-
fion to meeting and solving the problems
which were issues in these campaigns, II
also became necessary to meet other
problems which arose after elections; and
1t is no small part of our claim to public
confidence that these were solved with
Mhe same success that had attended the
solution of those concerning which the
battles at the polls were fought In
4 Their words, our governmental efficiency
proved equal not only to the tasks that
were anticipated. but to doing each I'M
anticipated task as it arose.
/ Was Not an Issue.
When the contest of 1896 was decided.
rhe question of the war with Spain was
mot an issue. When the contest of 1900
was decided the shape which the 18TH
milan canal question ultimately took could
mot have been foreseen. But the same
vi alities which enabled those RESPONSE
bile for making and administering the
laws at Washington to deal successfully
them also to deal with the Spanish war;
hnd the same qualities which enabled
hhem to act wisely in the Philippines
and i'm Cuba, also enabled them to do
hheir duty as regards the problems con-
nected with the trusts and to secure the
building of the Isthmian canal We are
jcontent to rest our case before the Amer
Acan people upon the fact that to adher-
yence to lofty ideal we have added prov
ed governmental efficiency. Therefore.
iour promises may surely be trusted as
regards any issue that is now before the
people; and we may equally be trusted
10 deal with any problem which may
hereafter arise
So we'll has the work been done that
Dur opponents do not venture to recite
khe facts about policies or acts, and
khen oppose them. They attack them only
when they have first misrepresented
them: for a truthful recital would leave
no room for adverse comment
The Action In Panama.
Panama offers an instance in point.
Our opponents can criticise what we did
Panama only on condition of misstat-
Ing what was done. The administration be-
,haved throughout not only with good
aaith, but with extraordinary patience
land large generosity toward those with
Ewhom 1t dealt 1t was also mindful Of
EAmerican interests. 1t acted in strict
compliance with the law passed by con
tgress. Had rot Panama been prompt
Recognized and the transit across the
hsthmus kept open, in accordance with
hour treaty rights and obligations there
jwould have ensued endless guerilla war
lfare and possibly foreign complications;
lwhNe all chance of building the canal
would have been deferred, certainly for
wears. perhaps for a generation or more.
lCriticism of the action IN this matter is
simply criticism of the only possible ac-
kion which could have secured the build
l1ng of the canal; as well as the peace
lind quiet which we were. by treaty, bound
40 preserve along the line of transit
iacross the isthmus. The service rem
hered this country in securing the perret-
hal right to construct, maintain. operate
land defend the canal was so great that
lour opponents do not venture to raise
hhe issue in straightforward fashion; Cor
If so raised there would be no issue. The
decided action which brought about this
sbeneficent result was the exercise by
lthe president of the powers vested In
him. and in him alone by the constitu-
lton: the power to recognize foreign gov
kernments by entering into diplomatic reIa-
lHans with them. and the power to make