The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-09-17
Roosevelt's Letter of Acceptance.


that ought to be abandoned. Presidential
candidates are nominated four months at least
before election day. A month later they are
officially notified of their nominations, make
speeches of acceptance, and month later
issue letters of acceptance. All this time
voters are awaiting these utterances of candi-
dates, party organization is delayed, and
much valuable time is wasted. Platforms are
not much regarded. The personnel of can
didates and their letters of acceptance deter
mine the votes of the business interests and
the votes of the business interests determine
to very large degree the results of Presiden
tial elections. The speeches of acceptance,
which are carefully written and approved by
party leaders, are all that is necessary, and
the letters of acceptance should be abandoned.
Two months and half after his nomina-
ton President Roosevelt issued his letter OF
acceptance last Monday. 1t occupied from
eight to ten columns in the daily papers, and
its formidable length appalled, the people gen
orally and comparatively few read the whole
of it. So Car as it will benefit the Republican
party it might as well have not been issued.
In the main it is claim that the good crops
and the business energy and enterprise OF the
people, which have increased trade anA com
meree, is all owing to the Mckinley and
Roosevelt Administrations on the one hand,
and on the other it is a defense Of the Roose-
welt Administration.
| 1t is quite noticeable, too. that Mr.. RooSe-
welt only goes back seven years in Republican
history. covering only McKinley's and his
own Administrations He holds fast TO Nc
Kinley, believing that the linking Of his name
! with Mckinley gives him a higher standing
and stronger prestige. No two men were so
dissmilar IN their general make up. One.
though often vaScllating, was man Of peace.
The other is a blusteriag boasting warrior
One was generally steadtasi in his political
views The other has been all around the
political compass, from civil service reform
err 10 u believer in the spoils of office: from
free-,rader to a believer in a high protective
tariff; from believer in independent voting,
to machine politician. While Mckinley
was no greater than many other statesmen ia
his party. it IS almost an Insult u his memory
for Roosevelt To undertake to place himself
upon the same plaae with him.
Roosevelt i writer of force. aud clothes
many of his statements with plsusibility, but
his facts are faulty and therefore his reasoning
must be misleading. As an egotist he stands
foremost among American politicians. As a
elaimer of everything. the late Mr.. Blaine
paies into insignihcasce IN COMPARISON In
his life Of Benton. he underworld 10 belhtie
every Democratic President from Jefferson
down. IL his letter Of acceptance his self
praise has exceeded wha. his most fa~ning
ad1nirer could have doise
We do not propose to take up M. Roose-
velts letter and show his a,isiatemeut Of facts
nor to expose bis fallaeies. 1t wouid BE- a
waste Of time aud space, for not one voter Va
Eve hundred has read his letter nor ever ~ill.
Its length Is forbidding. and leas, Of ali ~iIl
the business men read 1t.
In the second paragraph Of bis letter Mr.
Roosevelt says 1t IS difficult 10 End out from
the uttsrances OF our opponents shat are the
real issues upon which they propose to wage
this campaign.
The President has read to liule purpose If
be has not found out that be sud his acts are
the issues Of this campaign HIS overriding
Of the Constitution; his asarpa'iou Of the
powers Of Congress; his prevention Of an IN.
vestigaiioa Of the Departments Of Government
al Washington; his battling in the prosecution
Of trusts; bis attempt % establish social equal.
ily Of the white aud black man; the ex'raya.
gance Of expenditures during bis occupancy
Of the White House; bis conversion Of thu,
historical building into a sor, 81 rough rider
establishment, BY removing paintings ghaG
have adorned the walls for years, and ,ahsii-
tuiiug bis own iads therefor; bis aplug 81 the
Courts OF Europe. ia the number Of bed~cked
orlerlies. retinue ef reiainers and the de
failing 81 an army officer as dancing master;
bis acts 10 UNFOLDING the secession OF Panama.
by swift recognition Of the rebel government
or clique. aud having at hand war vessels 10
prevent Tenezuela from restoring or,ler IN her
domain. his inierueddling in the P0lities Of
Europe aud Asia These are sume Of the
issues, Mr. Roosevelt.
Democratic fundamental principles have
no, changed siace formulated by IsHersoa in
his first message 80 Congress, more than crn-
piry ago. The Republican party Was founded
upon hatred toward the South aid 4 defer
minstion 10 sci the negro free. The founders
Of that party we're wont to deaouuce the coua.
iry's Tag a. The starry rag and the peclAra.
ton OF Independence IS a ''living lie, aud
that party has never allowed the Constitution
10 stand in the way Of accomplishing It's par
poses.
Roosevelt's boast lhai the Republican party
established the single gold standard is bold
misiatement OF fact. That done At an
extra session Of Congress convened by Mr..
critics for doing it. But suppose it had, whA,
a change Of principles Of finance since the
Supreme Court Of the United States Was en-
larged aud packed so a. TO &c; "A decision
authorizing an issue Of greeuhaeks. And
what of the issue OF bonds which were bought
up with 10 cent greenbacks by Northern banks
and haanciers, and then later the greenbaeks
were made payable in goli2 This act was so
odious at the time that a large part Of the Re
pubicans reyoited and the "Greenback
Party was established. Even Mckinley was
infected with the greenbaek theory. The
Republican policy on finance has changed a
half dozen times since the close OF the Civil
War The Bland silver dollar act was endorsed
to save the Republican party from division and
disaster, and another Republican measure for
the same purpose was the Sherman act to pur.
chase 5. 00O, 600 ounces of silver month to
be coined into money. The wonder is that
any Republican would claim stability aud con.
sistency on Federal finances in the face Of in
disputable evidence to the contrary, aud Mr..
RooseyeIt's claim Of Republican soundness
on the financial policy of the Government and
having established the gold standard Of value
is presupposing ignorance Of the people or an
insult TO their intelligence.
As a document of consequence in the cam
paign to further Republican success Mr..
Roosevelt's letter of acceptance is a failure.
1t will be taken up by the press aud Demo.
cratic speakers, an item or two at a time, and
turned to his disadvantage.