Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-17
President ROOSevelt'S
Letter OF Acceptance
Oyster Bay. N. Y. Sept. 70. 100,

daily approve the platform adopted by it,
In writing this letter there are certain
points upon which 1 desire to lay especial
stress.
1t is difficult to find out from the utter
ances of our opponents what are the real
issues upon which they propose to wage
this cam. ,aign 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 any
thing. In fact il is doubtful if they ven-
ture resolutely to press a single issue; as
soon as they raise one they shrink from
1t ana seek to explain it away. Such an
attitude is the probably inevitable result
OF the effort to improvise convictions;
for when thus improvised 1t is natural
that they should be held in a tentative
manner
The party now in control of the gov
eminent is troubled by no such diff
culties. We do not have to guess at our
own convictions and then correct the
guess if it 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
they cannot accuse us of stiffness or
insincerity. The policies we have pur-
sued are those which we earnestly hold
as essential to the national welfare and
repute. Our actions speak even louder
than words for the faith that is in
US We base our appeal upon what we
have done and are doing upon our record
Of administration 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 i'm the past.
A party whose members are radically
ut variance on most vital issues and, if
united at all. are only united on issues
where their attitude threatens widespread
disaster to the whole country cannot
be trusted to govern i'm any matter. y
party which with facile ease changes
all it's convictions before election cannot
be trusted to adhere with tenacity to any
principle after election. \ party fit TO
govern must have convictions. In 1896
tho Republican party came into power
80 g. 1909 it retained power on certain
aehnitc pledges each Of which was seru-
pulously fulfilled. But. in addition to meet
ing and solving the problems which were
issues i'm these campaigns. it also became
necessary to meet other problems which
Rrose after election. and it is no small
part of our claim to public confidence
that these were solved with the same
success that had attended the solution OF
those concerning which the battles at
the polls We're fought In other words.
our governmental efficiency proved equal
not only to the tasks that were anticipate
ed. but 10 doing each unanticipated task
as II arose. H->s-s--->---~-.-e-~--,----
. When the contest of 1896 was decided.
Of he Wi -
not an issue When the contest of 1900
was decided. the shape which the 18TH
milan canal question ultimately took could
not have been foreseen. But the same
qualities which enabled those responsible
for making and administering the laws
at Washington to deal successfully with
the tariff and the currency enabled them
also to deal with the Spanish war and
Nhe same qualities which enabled them to
aCi wisely in the Philippines and in Cuba
also enabled them TO do their duty as re
gIrds the problems connected with the
trusts and TO secure the building of the
isthmian canal. We are content TO rest
our case before the American people upon
the fact that to adherence TO lofty ideal
we have added proved governmental ctii-
cheney. Therefore. our promises may sure
ly be trusted as regards any issue that il
now before the people. and we may equal
ly be trusted to deal with any problem
which may hereafter arise.
So well has the work been done that our
opponents do not venture to recite the
facts about our policies or acts and then
oppose them. They attack them only
when they hay first misrepresented them
for truthful recital would leave no room
for adverse comment.
Panama offers an instance in point.
Our opponents can criticse what we did
in Panama only on condition of msstat-
ing what was done. The administration
behaved throughout not only with good
faith but with extraordinary patience
and large generosity toward those with
whom il dealt. 1t was also mindful of
American interests. 1t acted in strict
compliance with the law passed by con-
gress. Had not Panama been promptly
recognized and the transit across the
isthmus kept open. in accordance with
our treaty rights and obligations, there
would have ensued endless guerrilla war
fare and possibly foreign complications.
while all chance of building the canal
would have been deferred, certainly for
years perhaps for a generation more.
Criticism of the action in this matter is
simply criticism of the only possible ac-
ton which could have secured the build
Ing or the canal well as the peace md
quiet which we were by treaty bound to
preserve along the line of transit across
the isthmus. The service rendered this
country IN securing the perpetual right
TO construct, maintain, operate and de-
iend the canal was SO great that our OPP
ponents do not venture to raise the issue
III StTalSnllOrWard fashion, for If so
raised there would be no issue. The de-
clslVe action which brought about this
benehcent result was the exercise by the
president of the powers vested in him. and
IN nm alone, by the constitution-the
power TO recognize foreign governments
Dy entering into diplomatic relations with
them ana the power to make treaties
winch, when ratified by the senate be-
come under the constitution part of the
supreme law of the land. Neither iu this
nor In any other matter has there been
the slightest failure to live I'D to the con-
sututlon IN letter and in spirit But the
constitution must be observed positively
as Wen as negatively. The PRESIDENT
outy Is 10 serve the country i'm accord
ehce with the constitution, and l should
De derelict In my duty if / used a false
cons tructon of the constitution as a
hhleid Tor weakness and timidity or as an
excuse Tor governmental Impotence
similar Misrepresentation is the one
weapon or our opponents in regard to our
foreign policy and the way the navy has
Deen made useful in carrying out this
poHcy. Here again all that we ask is
NAT they truthfully state what has been
kone and then say whether or not they
pect TO 1t; for If continued in power we