The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-12

natural that they should be held in . tentative manner.
 Of settled Csnvictisns.
 The party now in control of the gov | ernment Is troubled by no such difn- cultiss. We do have to guess at our
 convictions. and the incorrect the guess if 1t seems unpopular. The principles l 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 l or insincerity. The policies we have pursued are those which we earnestly hold as essential to the national wel- l fare and repute. Our actions speak 1 even louder than our words for the faith that is in us. We base our ap-
 peal upon what we have done and are
 doing, upon our record of administra-
 tion and legislation during the last
 seven years. in which we have had
 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 radically
 at variance on most vital issues, and
 if united at all. are only united on
 Issues where their altitude threatens
 widespread disaster to the whole | in any matter. A party which. with
 facile ease. changes all its convictions
 before election cannot be trusted to
 adhere with tenacity to any principle
 after election. A party fit to govern must have convictions. In 1896 the Republican party came into power. and
 in 1900 1t retained power on certain definite pledges, each of which was scrupulously fulfilled
 Post Election Problems.
 But in addition to meeting and solv. ing the problems which were issues in these campaigns. it also became neces- sary to meet other problems which arose after election: and 1t is no small ! part of our claim to public confidence that these were solved with the same success that had attended the solution of those concerning which the battles at the polls were fought. In other words, our governmental efaciency proved equal not only to the tasks | that were anticipated. but to doing each unanticipated task as it arose. When the contest of 1896 was decid- 1 ed, the question of the war with Spain | was not an issue. When the contest of 1900 was decided, the shape which l the Isthmian Canal question ultimate | ly took could not have been foreseen. i But the same qualities which enabled those responsible for making and ad- ministering the laws at Washington to deal successfully with the tariff and the currency, 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 con-
 nected with the trusts, and to secure l the building of the Isthmian Canal. | We are content to rest our case be- | fore the American people upon the fact | that to adherence to a lofty ideal we l have added proved governmental ef- | fciency. Therefore, our promises may | surely be trusted as regards any is- | sue that is now before the people; and
 any problem which may hereafter | arise.
 Democrats Misrepresent Things. So well has the work been done that l our opponents do not venture to recite | the facts about our policies or acts, and then oppose them. They attack them only when they have first misrepresent- | ed them; for a truthful recital would | leave no room for adverse comment. Panama offers an instance In point Our opponents can criticize what we did
 in Panama only on condition of misstat- 1 ing what was done. The Administra- | tion behaved throughout not only with good faith. but with extraordinary pa l tience and large generosity toward
 those with whom it dealt. It was also
 mindful of American interests. It act
 ed In strict compliance with the law passed by Congress. Had not Panama been promptly recognized. and the tran
 sit across the Isthmus kept open. in ac- ] cordance with our treaty rights and l obligations, there would have ensued endless guerrilla warfare and possibly | foreign complications; while all chance
 of buildir g the canal would have been
 deferred. certainly for years. perhaps
 for generation or, more. Criticism of
 the action in this matter is simply criti-
 cism of the only possible action which | could have secured the building of the
 canal; as we'll as the peace and quiet l which we were. by treaty, bound to preserve along the line of transit across l the Isthmus.
 Applause for Panama Act.
 l The service rendered this country in
 securing the perpetual right to con.
 struct, maintain, operate, and defend
 the canal was so great that our oppo- nents do not venture to raise the issue
 in straightforward fashion; for if so 1 raised there would be no issue. The
 decisive action which brought about | the benefcent result was the exercise l by the President of the powers vested l in him, and in him alone, by the Con-
 stitution; the power to recognize for eign governments by entering into di- plomatic relations with them. and the power to make treaties which, when
 ratified by he Senate. become under the
 Constitution part of the supreme law
 of the land.
 | Neither in this nor any other matter
 has there been the slightest failure
 to live up to the Constitution in letter
 and in spirit. But the Constitution
 must be observed positively as well as | negatively. The Presidents duty Is to
 serve the country in accordance with 1 the Constitution; and should be derc-
 lict in my duty if used a false con-
 struction of the Constitution as a shield
 for weakness and timidity, or as an ex-
 cuse for governmental impotence
 Similar misrepresentation is the one | weapon of our opponents in regard to
 our foreign policy. and the way the
 navy has been made useful in carry
 ing out this policy. Here again all that we ask is that they truthfulIy
 state what has been done. and then
 say whether or not they object to 1t; for if continued in power we shall con- tinue our foreign policy and our. hand ling of the navy on exactly the same lines in the future as in the past. To what phase of our foreign policy, and
 to what use of the navy. do our oppon-
 ents object? Do they object to the
 way in which the Monroe doctrine has l haAn and unhaId1