Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-09-15
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
Oyster Bay. N. Y. Sept. l2. 100

Chairman of the Notification Com.
"Dear Sir: | accept the nomination
for the Presidency rendered me by
the Republican National Convention.
and cordially approve the platform
adopted by 1t. In writing this letter
there are certain points upon which
/ desire to lay especial stress.
1T is difficult to find out from the
utterances of our opponents what are
the real issue upon which they pro
pose to wage this campaign. II 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 1t is that they really
believe, and as to how firmly they
shall assert their belief in anything.
In fact, II Is doubtful If they venture
resolutely to press "A single issue; as
soon as they raise one they shrink
from It and seek TO explain II away
Such an attitude is the probably in
evitable result of the effort to i'm
provise convictions; for when thus
improvised, 1t is natural that they
should be held in tentative manner
1.-THE party now in control of the
Government Is troubled by no such
difficulties. We do not have to guess
at our own convictions. and then cor
The principles which we profess are
those In which we believe; but they
cannot accuse us of stiffness or in
sincerity. The policies we have pur-
sued are those which we earnestly
hold as essential to the national wei
fare and repute. Our actions speak
even louder than our words for the
faith that is in us. We base our ap-
peal upon what wNhave done and are
doing, upon our record of admins
tration 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 1t on in the past.
"A party whose members are radi-
ly at variance on most vital Issues.
and II united at ALL are only united
on issuse where their attitude threat
ems widespread disaster to the whole
country, cannot he trusted TO govern
in any manner. A party which, with
facile ease, changes all its convictions
before election cannot be trusted to
adhere with tenacity to any princi-
pie after election. A party fit TO gov
ern must have convictions. In 1896
the Republican party came into pow
er, and in 1900 it retained power on
certain defined pledges, each OF which
was scrupulously fulfilled But in ad-
dition to meeting and solving the
problems which were issues in these
campaigns, 1t also became necessary
to meet other problems which arose
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 solu-
tion Of those concerning which the
battles at the polls were fought. In
other words. aur governmental efic-
iency proved equal not only to the
tasks that were anticipated, but to
doing each unanticipated task as ii
arose. -
cided, the question of the war with
Spain was not an issue. When the
contest of 1900 was decided the shape
which the Isthmian Canal question
ultimately took could not have been
foreseen. But the same qualities
which enabled those responsible for
making and administering the laws
of Uoc Ia In ufn tn Of "
with the tariff and the currency, en-
abled them also to deal with the
Spanish war; and the same qualities
which enabled them to act wisely in
the Philippines. and in Cuba, also en-
abled them to do their duty as re-
CARDS the problems connected with
the trusts. and to secure the build
ing of the Isthmian Canal. We are
content to rest before the American
people upon the fact that to adhere
ance to a lofty ideal we have added
proved governmental efficiency.
Therefore, our promises may sure
ly be trusted as regards any issue
that is now before the people; and
we may equally be trusted to deal
with any problem which may here
after arise.
$50 well has the work been bone
that our opponents do not venture to
recite the facts about our policies or
acts. and then oppose them. They at
tack them only when they have first
misrepresented them; for a truth
full recital would leave no room for
adverse commet
Panama offers an instance in
ponit Our opponents can criticise what
we did In Panama only on condition
OF misstating what was done The ad-
ministration behaved throughout not
only with good faith. but with extra
ordinary patience and large generos-
ity toward those with whom 1t dealt.
II was also mindful OF American in
terests. II acted in strict compliance
with the law passed by Congress. Had
not Panama been promptly recogniz-
ed, and the transit across the lsthmus
kept open. In accordance with our
treaty rights and obligations, there
would have ensued endless guerrilla
warfare and possibly foreign com
plications. while all chance of build