The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-08-04
Roosevelt Paragraphs.

We make use of the following para
graphs found in the address of President
Roosevelt accepting the nomination for
the presidency at bis o, ster Bay home,
last week. They are good solid reading
Assuredly 1t is unwise to change the
policies which have worked so we'll and
which are now working 80 well. Pros
perity has come at home. We have
done this with the aid of many who
were formerly our opponents, but who
would neither openly support nor silent
ly acquiesce In the heresy of unsound
finance; and we have done it against the
combined and violent opposition of the
mass of our present opponents who still
refuse to recant unsound opinions which
for the moment they think 1t inexpedient
to assert. We know what we mean
when we speak of an honest and stable
currency. We mean the same thing
from year TO year. We do not have to
avoid definite and conclusive committal
on the most important issue which has
recently been before the people, and
which may at any time In the near
future be before them again.
That whenever the need arises there
should be a readjustment Of the tariff
schedules Is undoubted; but such chang
es can with safety be made only by those
whose devotion to the principle OF a
protective tariff is beyond question; for
otherwise the changes would amount not
to readjustnent but to repeal. The re-
adjustment when made must maintain
and not destroy the protective principle.
Those who, like our opponents,
''denounce protection as robbery"
thereby explicitly commit themselves to
the proposition that il they were to re-
wise the tariff no heed would be paid to
the necessity of meeting this diff renee
between the standards of living for
wageworkers here and In other countries {;
and therefore on this point their an
tagonsm to our position Is fundamep-
tai
We believe in reciprocity with foreign
nations on the terms outlined in Presi-
dent McKnley's last speech, which
urged the extension OF our foreign mar
kets by reciprocal agreements whenever
they could be made without injury to
American industry and labor
Under the f1nancial legislation which
we have enacted there Is now ample
circulation for every business need
and every dollar of this circulation IL
worth dollar in gold. We have re-
duced the interest-bearing debt and In
still larger measure the interest on that
debt. All of the war taxes imposed
during the Spanish war have been re-
moved with a view to relieve the people
and to prevent the accumulation Of an
unnecessary surplus. The result is that
har dl hnf hau ho NJ N r.
and income of the government 80 closely
corresponded. In the fiscal year that
has just closed the excess of income over
the ordinary expenditures was nine
millions of dollars. This does not take
account of the fifty millions expended
out of the accumulated surplus for the
purchase Of the Isthmian Canal.
We recognize the organic ton of capt.
tai and the organization of labor as
natural outcomes of our industrial
system. Each kind of organization is to
be favored so long as it acts In spirit Of
justice and Of regard for the rights Of
others. Each is to be granted the full
protection Of the law, and each in turn
is to be held to strict obedience to the
law; for no man Is above it and no man
below it. The humblest Individual is to
have his rights safeguarded as scru-
pulously as those of the strongest
organic ,tion, for each is to re-
ceive justice, no more and no less
The problems with which we have to
deal In our modern industrial and social
life are manifold; but the spirit in which
it is necessary to approach their solution
is simply the spirit Of honesty, Of cour-
age, and of common sense.
Our foreign policy has been so con-
Quoted that, while not one of our just
claims has been sacrificed, our relations
with all foreign nations are now of the
most peaceful kind; but there is not a
cloud on the horiz)n In the
Caribbean sea we have made good our
promises to Cuba, and have proved our
assertion that our mission In the Island
was one of justice and not of self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; and thereby no less
than by our action In Venezuela we have
shown that the Monroe doctrine is a
living reality, designed for the hurt of
no nation, but for the protection Of
civilization on the western continent and
for the peace of the world. Our steady
growth In power has gone hand in hand
with Strengthening disposition to use
his power with strict regard for the
rights of others, aud for the cause of in
!ernational justice and good will.