The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-09-13
PRESIDENT R|N)SEVAT'S
LETTER CF ACCEPTANCE

Oyster Ray, \. Y. Sept. II -Presi'
dent Koosevelt's letter accepting the
Republican nomination for the DreSi-
dency has been made public II is in
part as follows:
1t is difficult 10 nnd out from the Ut
terances Of our opponents what are the
real issues upon which obey propose 10
wage this campaign. 1t is not unfair
20 say that, having abandoned most OF
the principles upon which they have IN
sisted during the last eight years. lleY
now seem al loss both aS 10 what il
is that they really believe and as TO
how firmly they shall assert their be-
lief in anything. In fact, 1t Is doubt
ful If they venture resolutely 10 press
a single issue As soon QS they raise
one they shrink from it and seek 10
explain il away.
The party now in control Of the gov
eminent is troubled 10y no such Diff
culties. We do not have 90 guess at
our own convictions and then correct
the guess II it seems unpopular The
principles which We profess are those
in which We believe with heart "nd
soul and strength Men may diiler
from us. but they cannot accuse us OF
thickness or inSincerity. The policies
We have pursued are those which we
earnestly hold as essential to the ma
IL 4
tons speak even louder than our words
for the faith that is in us. We base
our appeal upon what We have done
and are doing. upon our record OF ad-
ministration and legislation during the
last seven years, in which we have had
complete control OF the government
We intend in the future TO carry on
the government in the same way that
We have carried il on in the past.
So well has the work been done that
our opponents do not venture 10 recite
the facts about our policies or acts and
then oppose them, They attack them
only when they have first miSrepresenJ-
ed them, for a truthful recital would
leave no room for adverse comment
Panama.
Panama offers m instance in point
Our opponents can criticise what we
did in Panama only on condition of
misstating what was done. The admin
istratiOn behaved throughout not only
with good faith. but with eXtraordi-
nary patience and large generosity TO-
ward those with whom it dealt Ii was
also mindful of American interests. II
acted In strict compliance with the law
passed by congress Had not Panama
been promptly recognized aud the
transit across the isthmus kept open
In accordance with our treaty rights
and obligations there would have en-
sued eudless guerrilla warfare anu
possibly foreign complications, while
all chance of building the canal would
have been deferred certainly for years.
perhaps for a generation OF more
Criticism of the action in this matter
is simply criticism Of the only possible
action which could have secured the
building OF the canal As well as the
peace and quiet which we were by
treaty bound 10 preserve along the
line OF transit across the iSthmus. The
service rendered this country in secur-
ing the perpetual right to construct.
maintain, operate and defend the canal
was so great that our opponents do not
venture 10 raise the issue in straight
forward fashion, for il so raised there
would be no issue
The decisive action which brought
about this benefcent result was the
exercise by the president Of the pow
ers vested in him. and in him alone, BY
The constitution. the power TO recog-
nize foreign governments by entering
into diplomatic relations with them
and the power to make treaties which
when ratified by the senate become IN
der the constitution part Of the supreme
law OF the land. Neither in this nor in
any other matter has there been the
slightest failure 10 live up to the con
stitution in letter and IN spirit. But
the constitution must be observed pos
itively as well as negatively The pres
idents duty is to serve the country IN
accordance with the constitution, and
/ should be derelict in my duty if l
used a false construction OF the cOnst-
tuition as a shield for weakness aud IL
nudity or as an excuse for govern
mental impotence.
Foreign Policy.
Similar misrepresentation is the one
weapon Of our opponents in regard to
our foreign policy and the way the
navy has been made useful in carry
ing out this policy. Here again all
that we ask is that they truthfully
state what has been done and then
say whether or not they object to it,
for IL continued in power We shall con
tinue our foreign policy and our han
ding of the navy on exactly the same
lines In the future as in the past. To
what phase of our foreign policy and
90 what use of the navy do our Oppo-
nents object? DO they object to the
way in which the Monroe doctrine has
been strengthened and upheld DO
our opponents object to what was done
in reference to the petition OF Ameri-
can citizens against the Kishineff
massacre. or 10 the protest against the
treatment Of the Jews in ROumania,
or to the efforts that have been made
In behalf OF the Armenians in Turkey:
No other administration in our his
tory, no other government in the
world, has more consistently stood for
the broadcast spirit of brotherhood in
our common humanity or has held a
more resOlute attitude of protest
against every wrong that outraged the
civilization Of the age at home or
abroad. DO our opponents object 10
the fact that the international tribunal
At The Hague was rescued from i'm