Middletown transcript., 1904-11-12
WASHINGTON LETTER

1yhEclOENl huOscNci1 uaS AhSV VIC "A
IL precedented and unscrupulou
charges against himself and Chairman
Cortelyou in an unprecedented manner
but manner in entire accord with hi
manly and straightforward methods. HI
has written an.open letter denying the en-
tire charge that he appointed Mr.. Cortel
you chairman OF the Republican Nationa
Committee in order that the collection o
campaign funds might be facilitated by
Cortelyou's knowledge of trust secrets,
and explaining that Mr.. Cortelyon was
selected with regret because of the loss he
would be to the cabinet, and after the
President had tried without avail to pur.
suade w. Murray Crane, Ex-Governor Of
Massachusetts, now Senator, appointed to
succeed Senator Hoar, Elihu Root, ex-
Secretary of War, and Cornelius N. Bliss
of New York, to accept the place. The
President explains that lie selected Mr..
Cortelyou because of his high integrity
and declares that he will be glad to have
the American people judge of the respect
i've characters Of Mr.. Cortelyou and Mr..
Taggart. President Roosevelt delicately
alludes to the character of the campaign
conducted by Mr.. Parker himself when
he procured the election Of David B. Hill
to the governorship of New York and
promises to the people of the United
States an absolutely square and honest
administration in the event of his own
election. He says, in conclusion, THAT
statements made by Mr.. Parker are un-
qualifedly and atrociously false. As MIR.
Cortelyou has said to me more than once
during this campaign, if elected ] shall 60
into the Presidency unhampered by any
pledge, promise, or understanding of any
kind, sort or description, save my promise
made openly to the American people,
that SO far as in my power lies l shall see
to it that every man has square deal,
no less and no more"
~
When the historian of the future writes
the history of the campaign of 1904, he
may we'll entitle it "The degradation of
Alton B. Parker" or 'The Corruption Of
Weak Jurist by His Associates and
Sponsors" When, at the beginning of
the campaign, David B. Hill and his
political allies dragged from obscurity the
Esopus jurist, he was depicted as quiet,
conservative man with judicial mind
and unimpeachible integrity. On August
10Th Mr.. Parker wrote to George F. Par
ker, chief of the Democratic literature
bureau, admonishing him to permit no
reflection on the honor and integrity of
President Roosevelt. That was in the
days when Mr.. Parker was attempting to
impersonate William Mckinley. For
many weeks Mr.. Parker played this roll
but he played it badly. No one of his
assertions was wholly yeracious. Most of
his statements were promptly refuted by
official records or disproved by over.
whelwing evidence. Even his legal
opinions, which were supposed to be his
strong point, were promptly shown to be
unsound. He was compelled to shift
from pillar to post, as in the case of his
assertion, in his speech of acceptance,
that the common law afforded "ample
legal remedy against monopolies." Con-
froted by the fallacy of this opinion, Mr..
Parker promptly cited an irrelevant legal
decision, and when its irrevelence had
been shown up by Ex-Attorney General
Knox, he shifted his position and de-
clared that he had meant existing law.
Taken to task for evading the race ques-
tion he referred his critic to his letter OF
acceptance and his most ardent news
paper supporter was compelled to admit
that it could find no trace of an explicit
utterance on the question in his letter.
Many similar instances might be, have
been, cited. Mr.. Parker declared that
he would not go on the stump. Emulat-
ing Mr.. McKinley's course at Canton, lie
confined himself to front porch speeches
at Esopus. But his speeches exhibited
total unfamiliarity with national affairs
a losse method of thinking and speaking
and an amazing ignorance of finance.
As ''safe and sane' candidate, Mr..
Parker proved abject failure.
~
Meanwhile, the Republican campaign |
was being conducted on the same high |
plane on which it had been initiated. |
The most powerful snd the most widely |
circulated campaign document was Presi- |
dent Roosevelt's letter of acceptance. 1t
has stood the test of the most violent op-
position. No Republican speaker has
ever had to modify or take back q state
ment. or to apologize for single act Of
the Republican administration. Absolute
frankness and honesty have characterized
the entire Republican campaign. Taking
their texts from their leader, the Repnbli-
can speakers have avoided innuendo and
insinuation and have promised for the |
same conscientious and intelligent ad-
as the nation has enjoyed |
during the past eight years. Such
methods have appealed to the American
people and confidence in the fulHllment
of this promise has insured Republican
success.
~
Several weeks ago it became evident to
every intelligent observer that Roosevelt
would be elected, unless, BY distortion
and falsehood there could be created an
issue which would deceive the public.
Then Mr.. Parker was told by the coterie
Of infamous politicians of which he is the |
protege, and whose every nlandate he
obeyed, that he must cast aside his
dignity, and hazard everything on his
ability to make the public believe in the
OF Theodore r. oseyelt and
George B. Cortelyou. The official dignity
he had SO long assumed was thrown off,
his alleged judicial respect for truth was
cast aside and h;a mo hood .,as 3a,,aar |