The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-09-12
Democrats Scored in Letter Doubtful if TheyPre
 a Single Issue.
THEY SEEM TO BE AT A LOSS
RADICALLY AP VARIANCE ON
 MOST VITAL QUESTIONS.

titude Threatens Widespread Disas-
 ter to the Whole Country-CannOt be
 Trusted to Govern in Any Matter
 Republicans Content to Rest Their
 Case with the PeopIe-Their Prom
 ises May be Surely Trusted-Oppo-
 nents' Weapon Misrepresentation
 Panama as an Instance-something
 should be Done for American Mer-
 chant Marine--other Issues Dis-
 cussed.
 Oyster Bay N. Y, September F, 1sO4.-
 Hon. J. c. Cannon. Chairman of the
 Notification Committee:
 My Dear Sir-I accept the nomination for the Presidency rendered me by the republican national convention, and cordially approve the platform adopted by it. Iii writing this letter there are certain points upon which I desire to lay especial stress.
 It is difficult to find out from the ut terances of our opponents what are the real issues upon which they propose to wage this campaign. It Is not unfair to say that, having abandoned most of the principles upon which they have insis- ted during the last eight years, they now seem at a loss both as to what it s Is that they really believe, and as to how firmly they shall assert their belief in anything. In fact, it is doubtful if they venture resolutely in press sim < gle issue; < as soon as they raise one they shrink from it and seek to explain it away. Such an attitude is the probably inevitable result of the effort to impro- wise convictions; for when thus impro- vised, it is natural that they should be < held in tentative manner.
 Not Guessing at Own Convictions
 The party now in control of the goy- ernment is troubled by no such difficult ties. We do not have to guess at our own convictions, and then correct the guess if it seems unpopular. The prin- hciples 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 shiftiness or insincerity. The policies we have pursued are those which we earnestly hold asessential to the national welfare and repute. Our actions speak even louder than our words for tE faith that 5 is in us. We base our appeal upon what we have done and are doing, upon our record of administration and legis- { lation during the last seven years, in which we have had complete control of s the government. We intend in the fu- ture to carry on the government in the same way that we have carried 1t on in I the past.
 A party whose members are radically at variance on most vital issues, and if a united at all, are only united on issues where their attitude threatens wide- spread disaster to the Whcle country, cannot be trusted to govern in any matter. A party which, with facile ease, changes all it's convictions before election cannot be trusted to adhere with tenacity4sto any principle after election. A party fit to govern must have convictions. Iii 1896 the republi- can party came into power, and in 1900 it retained power on certain definite pledges, each of which was scrupulous- ly fulfilled. But in addition to meeting and solving the problems which were issues in these campaigns, it also be- came necessary to meet other problems which arose after election; and it is no small part of our claim to public confi- dence that these were solved with the same success that has attended the so- lution of those concerning which the battles at the polls were fought. In other words, our government efficiency proved equal not only to the tasks that were anticipated, but to doing each un- anticipated task as it arose.
 Solution of Problems. { When the contest of 1896 was decided the question of the war with Spain was not an issue When the contest of 1900 was decided, the shape which the Isth- milan Canal question ultimately took ]. could not have been foreseen. But the same qualities which enabled those re sponsible for making and administering the laws at Washington to deal sue. cessfully with the tariff and the curren- cy. enabled 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 enabled
 them to do their duty as regards the problems connected with the trusts
 and to secure the building of the 18th. milan 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 gov.
 ernmental efficiency Therefore, oul promises may surely be trusted as re. gards any issue that is now before thu
 people; and we may equally be trusted to deal with any problem which ma!
 hereafter arise
 So well has the work been done tha
 our opponents do not venture to recitt
 the facts about our policies or acts, anc then oppose them. They attack then
 only when they have first n1isrepresent
 ed them; for truthful recital would
 leave no room for adverse comment.
 Panama Us an Instance.
 Panama offers an instance in point