Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-06-25

CdlCAGO, June ~I.-Iue hepuDllCdu
national convention Of 1904 began its
three days session here when Henry
g. Payne, chairman of the national
committee, at IL o'clock noon called
on the Rev. Timothy p. Frost to open
the assembly with prayer. Secretary
Nlmer Dover then read the call of the
convention, after which the chairman
of the national committee introduced to
the assembly Temporary Chairman of
the Convention Elihu Root of New
York, late secretary OF war.
Mr.. Root began his address with a
review Of the achievements Of the Re
publican party in the City years of its
existence, declaring that now as in the
past on that party rested the response
biSty OF government. Continuing he
dwelt at length on the administrations
Of Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt.
discussing exhaustively the great Ques-
lions which had come before the public
IN the past seven years and the man
ner In which they had been dealt with.
In speaking of the Philippines he gave
to the Filipinos this promise of ulti-
mate self government:
mo one can fortell the future, but
there seems no reasonable cause to
doubt that under the policy already eff
fectively inaugurPted, the institutions
already implanted and the processes al
ready begun In the Philippine Islands,
If these be not repressed and interrupt
ed, the Philippine people will follow in
the footsteps Of the people Of Cuba;
that moro slowly indeed, because they
are not as advanced, yet as surely.
they will grow in capacity for self
government and, receiving power as
they grow In capacity, will come to
bear substantially such relations to the
people Of tho United States as do now
the people of Cuba, differing in details
as conditions and needs differ, but the
same in principle and the same in be-
nehcent results"
Summarizing the administration Of
President Roosevelt he said
1.-THE present administration has re-
,duced taxation, reduced the public
debt, reduced the annual interest
charge, made effective progress in the
regulation of trusts, fostered business.
promoted agriculture, built up the ma
Wy, reorganized the army, resurrected
the militia system, inaugurated' new
policy for the preservation and recla-
nation of public lands, given civil gov
eminent to the Philippines, established
the republic of Cuba, bound it to us by
nf ,iaI fntA
est and of common defense, swung
open the closed gateway of the 18TH
mus, strengthened the Monroe doc
trine, ended the Alaskan boundary dis
pute, protected the integrity of China,
opened wider it's doors of trade, add
vanced the principle of arbitration and
promoted peace among the nations.
1--WE challenge Judgment upon this
record of effective performance in leg
islation, in execution and in admins
tration."
Whether the policies thus outlined
shall be reversed on committed to un-
friendly guardians, whether the revi-
sion of the tariff, which may soon be
necessary, shall be made by the friends
of or enemies of the protective system,
whether the honor of our country
should be intrusted to unknown and
perchance feeble hands the American
people, Mr.. Root declared, have now to
say.
Mr.. Root closed with an eloquent eu-
logy of the late President Mckinley
and "a glowing tribute to Theodore
Roosevelt, OF whom he said:
"No people can maintain free govern
ment who do not in their hearts value
the qualities which have made the
present president Of the United States
conspicuous among the men of his
time as a type of noble manhood. Come
what may here-come what may In
November, God grant that those quail
tiles or brave. true manhood shall have
honor throughout America. shall be
held for an example In every home
and that the youth Of aenArations