Evening journal., 1904-09-12

MENTS OF THE RE
PUBLICAN PARTY
Oyster Bay. n. Y, Sept. 12.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt's letter accepting the
Republican nomination for the presi-
dency has been made public. 1t is in
part as follows:
1t Is difficult TO find out from the ut
terances Of our opponents what are the
real issues upon which they propose to
wage this campaign. II is not unfair
to say that, having abandoned most Of
the principles upon which they have in
sisted during the last eight years, they
now seem at loss both a to what it
is that they really believe and as to
how firmly they shall assert their be-
lief in anything. In fact, Il is doubt
ful If they venture resolutely TO press
a single issue. AS soon as they raise
one they shrink from it and seek to
explain II away.
The party now in control Of the gov
ernment is troubled by no such diff
culties. We do not have TO guess at
our own convictions and then correct
the guess If il 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
trickiness or insincerity. The policies
we have pursued are those which we
earnestly hold as essential TO the ma
tional welfare and repute. Our ac-
tons speak even louder than our words
for the faith that is in US. We base
our appeal upon what we have done
and are doing, upon our record OF ad-
ministration and legislation during the
last seven years, in which we have had
complete control Of the government.
We intend in the future to carry .On
the government in the same way that
we have carried 1t on in the past.
So we'll has the work been done that
our opponents do not venture to recite
the facts about our policies or acts and
then oppose them. They attack then
only when they have first misrepresent
ed them, for a truthful recital would
leave no room for adverse comment
Panama.
Panama offers an instance in point
Our opponents can criticise what we
: did in Panama only on condition OF
misstnting what was done. The admin
istration behaved throughout not only
with good faith, but with extraordi-
nary patience and large generosity to-
ward those with whom II dealt. II was
also mindful of American interests. II
acted in strict compliance with the law
passed by congress. Had not Panama
been promptly recognized and the
transit across the isthmus kept open
in accordance with our treaty rights
and obligations there would have en-
sued endless guerrilla warfare and
possibly foreign complications, while
all chance Of building the canal would
have been deferred certainly for years
perhaps for a generation or more.
Criticism of the action in this matter
is simply criticism of the only possible
action which could have secured the
building Of the canal as well as the
peace and quiet which we were by
treaty bound to preserve along tbs
line Of transit across the isthmus. The
service rendered this country in secur
ing the perpetual right to construct
maintain, operate and defend the cana
was so great that our opponents do no
venture TO raise the issue in straight
ua.I fkat
would be no issue
The decisive action which brough
about this benehcent result was thu
exercise by the president of the pow
ers vested in him, and in him alone, b.
the constitution, the power to recOg
nize foreign governments by enterini
into diplomatic relations with then
and the power to make treaties whicl
when ratified by the senate become un
der the constitution part Of the suprem'
law of the land. Neither in this nor il
any other matter has there been tn
slightest failure 10 live up to the con
stitution in letter and in spirit. Blu
!, the constitution must be observed pos
itively as well as negatively. The pres
Il AQtnl uQAe " wv AAN tNaANAf a.
accordance with the constitution, an
A should be derelct in my duty If
used a false construction Of the const
tuition as n shield for weakness and Z
midity or as an excuse for govern
mental impotence.
Foreign Policy.
Similar misrepresentation is the on
n weapon of our opponents in regard
our foreign policy and the way th
navy has been made useful in carr,
ing out this policy. Here again a
that we ask is that they truthful
state what has been done and the
say whether or not they object to
8 for II continued in power we shall col
= tinue our foreign policy and our hai
: ding OF the navy on exactly the san
lines in the future as in the past.
what phirse Of our foreign policy an
10 what use of the navy do our opp
nents object? Do they object TO Il
way in which the Monroe doctrine HI
been strengthened and upheld? /
our opponents object to what was dol
in reference to the petition of Amei
can citizens against the Kishine
foaccorrn or 70 fha profaet ouafugt III