The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-09-03
| HIS WEAKNESS IS PlTIFUL.
Candidate Davis Speech Of Acceptance
Contains Not q Single Vertebrate
Symptom.

In reply to the charge that octogen-
arian Mr. Davis was too old a man To
be vice president 1t has been rebutted
that he is uncommonly well preserved;
that he still eats three hearty meals
day, rides horseback. walks uphill. aud
superintends the work on his farm.
These facts, II true. would prove, 1t 10
alleged. that he has physical strength
sufficient not only for the facile task
of presiding over the decorous senate
but also, II need be, to take up the
heaviest duties in the world-those OF
the American presidency.
But even for the moment supposipg
that which is almost impossible to
conceive-namely: that Mr.. Davis
physical vigor could long survive the
harassing. unceasing, life draining rou-
tine of the presidency-there now ap-
pears adequate reason to question
whether he has the requisite mental
vigor for the task In his speech OF
acceptance certainly he gives no sign
whatever of appreciating the public
questions which will confront the
next president.
Mr.. Davis says that while four years
ago republican ortors were expaiating
on the good times, now prosperity Is
waning, and 1t Is therefore appropriate
for the democrats to come in power
again. His party will hardly thank
him for the suggestion that demo-
Gratis and hard times should come to-
gether. The candidate goes on to- say
that he, too, regards the gold standard
as irrevocably settled But the money
question Is not an issue of this years
campaign. What does the candidate
have to say on the present issues?
Nothing, absolutely.
Mr.. Davis said not one single word
ON the trust question.
Nor on the question of labor and
capital.
Nor on the Philippine question.
Nor on the tariff question.
Nor on the Monroe doctrine. ~
Nor on the Panama canal. ~
Nor on the open door.
| Nor on reciprocity
Nor on the navy.
| For the candidate of a great party
for the second Office in the land not to
make a single reference in his key
note speech to any of the questions
which divide his party from the oppo-
sition party is at once extraordinary
and unique in the history of the Unit
ed States. Not since the adoption OF
the constitution has there been a par
allel case.
| ha TrthvnA aor lv
\ sires to be fair In this campaign to the
candidates of both parties, but 1t finds
itself unable to comment upon the eff
fort of Mr.. Davis without branding II
as unquestionably the weakest ever
made by national candidate of O
great party in the history of the coun.
try.
1t had been widely announced before
Mr. Davis delivered his speech Of &C
ceptance that it was of his own per
sonal manufacture Nobody had seer
1t, not even his son-in-law, Senator
EllSins. Now that he has exposed his
weakness 1t is not unlikely that his
letter of acceptance will be undertaken
by somebody else But the horse has
been stolen and ii Is too late to lock
the barn door. The country has had
one startling opportunity to take the
measure of this vice presidential can
didate.
Money talks. Perhaps Mr.. Davis
expects his money to do the talking
for him. But in national campaign
where 100000 votes are to be cast
money cannot do all the talking and
all the thinking. The candidate must
do some of 1t.
Neither in bodily nor mental
strength does Mr. Davis now measure
anywhere near presidential size. Each
day brings a new proof that the dem.
ocratic convention made huge mis-.
take in its vice presidential nominee