Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-09-16
RoosTvELT's LETTER TO THE
NOTIFICATION COMMITTEE.
APPROVES PARTY PLATFORM
Says 1t Is Hard to Find Issues Upon
Which Democrats Propose to
Wage Campaign-His Views
on Public Questions.


fo<m adopted by 1t. in writing this letter
there are certain points upon which l de-
Sire to lay especial stress
1t is difficult to find out from the utter
.ahaes of our opponents what are the real |
issues upon which they propose to wage |
this campaign. 1t is not unfair to say that, |
h1Ving abandoned most of the principles |
uuon which they have insisted during the |
last eight years, they now seem seen at at loss,
.lieVe, and as to how firmly they shall assert !
their belief in anything. In fact, 1t is doubt |
.tul If they venture resolutcly to press a |
single 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 improVise convic- |
tions; for when thus improvised 1t is nat
ural that they should be held in tentative
manner
"The party now in control of the govern
ment is troubled by no such difficulties.
I'VE do not have to guess at our own con-
seems unpopular The. principles 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 stiffness or insncerity. The policies
we have pursued are those which we earn
sesty hold essential to the national wei
fare and repute. Our actions speak even
louder than our words for the faith that
is in us. We base our appeal upon what
record of administration and legislation
during the last seven years, In which we
-ment We intend in the future to carry
the government in the same way that
we have carried 1t on in the past.
A Disrupted Party.
"A party whose members are radically
at variance on most vital issues, and If
united at all are only united on issues
where their attitude threatens widespread
disaster to the whole country. cannot be
yhich. with faciie ease, changes ali its
convictions before election cannot be
trusted to adhere with tenacity to any
,principle after election. A party 1T to
govern must have convictions, In 1896 the
republican party came into power and in
1900 it retained power, on certain definite
fulfilled. But in addition to meeting and
solving the problems which were issues
in these campaigns. it also became neces-
Sary to meet other problems which arose
after election; and ii is no small part of
were solved with the same success that
hai attended the solution of those con-
SerHing which the battles at the polls We're
fought In other words, our governmental
efficiency proved equal not only to the tasks
thnt We're anticipated. but to doing each
unfnticpated task as 1t arose.
when the contest of 1886 was decided.
tho question of the war with Spain was
not an issue. When the contest of 1900 was
decided, the shape which the Isthmian
canal question ultimately took could not
have been foreseen, But the same quail
ties which enabled those responsible for
making and administering the laws at
Washington to deal successfully with the
tariff and the currency, enabled them also
to deal with the Spanish war; and the
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 Isthmian
canal. We are content to rest our case
before the American people upon the fact
that TO adherence TO a lofty ideal we have
added proved governmental efficiency
Therefore, our promises may surely be
trusted as regards any issue that is now
before the people; and we may equally be
trusted to deal with any problem which
may hereafter arise.
$50 well has the work been done tha
our opponents do not venture to recite the
facts about our policies or acts, and ther
oppose them; They attack them only wher
Nthey have first misrepresented them; fol
~ truthful recital would leave no room fol
diverse comment"
v The action of the administration in con
- nection with the Panama revolution and
the signing of the canal treaty is outlined
and the president says:
CRITICISM of the action in this matter
is simply criticism of the only possible
action which could have secured the build
ing of the canal: as well as the peace an(
quiet which we We're. by treaty. bound t,
preserve along the line of transit acros
the isthmus. The service rendered th
construct, maintain, operate and defen,
the canal was so great that our opponent
DO not venture to raise the issue in straight
forward fashion: for if so raised ther
would be no issue
Democratic Misrepresentation.
He charges misrepresentation on the par
of the democrats in the statements of til
conduct of the foreign policy of the admin
istration and TIE operations Of the navy
and asks:
DO our opponents object to the way /
which the Monroe doctrine has bee
x strengthened and upheld? Never befor
! has this doctrine been acquiesced in abroa
as it is now; and Yet, while upholding tn
rights of TIE weaker American republic
against foreign aggression. the adminstra
dGn has lost ro opportunity to point OF
10 these republics that, those who see
equity should come with clean hands, an
that whoever claims liberty as a right mus
accept the responsibilities that go with tn
exercise of the right. Do our opponent
object to what was done in reference I
'the petition of American citizens again.
The kishenev massacre? or to the prote'
against the treatment of the Jews in RoI
mania? or to the efforts that have bee
made In behalf of the Armenians in Tu
Key No other administration in our hi
tory, no other government in the worl
mas more consistently stood for tile broat
est spirit of brotherhood in our commo
humanity or has held more resolute a
titude of protest against every wrong thi
outraged the civilization of the age,
Ihome or abroad Do our opponents obje
to the fact that the international tribun
at Tie Hague was rescued from impotenc
and turned into a potent instrument fl
ment has used that tribunal and adv
4 Gated its use by others. in pursuance of
policy to promote the cause of intern
tonal peace and good will by all honorab
methods. In carrying out this policy
has settled dispute after dispute by a
'bltration or by friendly agreement It h
weak. with courtesy. dignity and justic
and II is now on excellent terms with all
"Do our opponents object to the settl
ment of the Alaska boundary line? !
they object to the fact that after freei
Cuba we gave her reciprocal trade adva
tage with the United States, while at I
same time keeping naval, stations i'm I
island and providing against its sinki
foreign power? Do they object to the "a
that our flag now flies over Porto Rie
DO they object to the acquisition Of II
waltz Once they hauled down our Il
there; we have holsted It again; do tn
intend once more to haul 1t down?
they object to the part we played In Chin
DO they not know that the voice of I
United States would now count for not
Ing in the far east II we had abandoned I
PHILIPPINES. and refused to do what v
done IN China? DO they object to the II
settlement of the troubles In Venezu
two years ago? Do they object TO the pr
.eEce OF the shlp-of-waT Off Colon when
revolution broke out in Panama and WI
only the presence of this ship saved
oItf md mr.