Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-22
LETTER
The Formal Acceptance OF
His Nomination
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT
TERsE PRESENTATION OF THE
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
Protection, Reciprocity and Financial
Policies of Party Fully Amplifed-
Presidents Course Endorsed.


I he Hon. Elihu Root, chairman of notitica-
ticn committee.
My Dear Sir: In accordance with the
promise made when you formally notified
me of my nomination for Vice President, L
avail myself of this opportunity to submit
TO you, and through you, to my fellow citl
zens. some further views with respect to
the questions in issue before the people,
The principles which are so frankly and
felicitOusly expressed in the platform
adopted by the republican national conven-
ton meet with my heartiest approval. In
the main they have been subjected to the
test of actual experience and have been
found to be we'll suited to our Industrial
and national needs. They have brought US
10 nigh state of material development,
and have made the nations name respected
among the powers of the earth.
The utteranceS of political parties must
be interpreted in the light Of that practical
construction which they have put upon
them when intrusted with power. 1t is not
alone what they say, but what they will do
which should weigh in determining their
capacity to administer public affairs
we have had two administrations In the
last seven years which have been governed
by the same policies We may consult the
trade reports in vain to discover when the
one ended and the other began. Both were
Obliged to make vast expenditures for
much-needed public works. The rapidly
expanding needs of the government bust
ness must be met. The national equipment
must Keep pace with our national growth,
yet always with due regard to the prin-
clples of sound economy in public eXpend-
lture We have pursued no parSimoniOuS
policy on the one hand nor INDUCED in ex-
travagance on the other. We have meas
ured the public expense by the public ne
cessity
The convention did Well In its hearty
Communication of the administration of
President Roosevelt. This is sharply chaI-
lenged by the opposition. We accept the
Issue with confidence. The President as
sumed the responsibilities of chief execu-
tive with pledge to carry out the policy
OF his beloved and lamented predecessor.
He kept the cabinet of President McKin-
ley, composed of statesmen of eminent
ability, in whom the country placed entire
confidence. He carried forward the I'M
completed work faithfully and successfully
The pledge has been kept scrupulously; the
promise has been fulfilled. Peace and good
order have been maintained. Domestic ard
foreign trade have increased and relations
of amity have been preserved with foreign
powers.
The foreign policy of the administration
has been conservative, just and firm and
has made for the advancement of peace.
Time and events have given US q larger
place in international affairs. While we
have enlarged our foreign commerce. we
nave increased our prestige abroad not
with the sword. but with the peaceful
agency of enlightened diplomacy 81.
Thirty treaties have been concluded and
proclaimed and stand to the credit of the
administration. Some of these are Of far
reaching Importance. Among the number
are the Hay-Pauncefote treaty, suppressed
ing the Clayton Bulwer convention which
stood in the way of the construction of an
isthmian canal: the Panama canal treaty
the Alaskan boundary treaty and CONNER
cial treaties with China and with Cuba.
Continuance of Foreign Policy.
Events in the far east suggest the wis
dom and necessity of a continuance of the
present foreign policy. We have maintain
ed exact neutrality between Russia and
Japan. AT the beginning of the war be-
tween them they assented to the sugges-
ton made by the administration limiting
the zone of hostilities. This tends to pre-
serve the open door in the orient, so impor-
tant and so much desired in the expansion
of our commerce. 1t is the policy of the
administration, predicated upon the sound
est national prudence, TO settle and remove
by treaty. SO far as possible those inter-
national differences which lead to future
friction.
We favor the adjustment of international
dlsa agreements by an appeal to reason
rather than to arms. A great ma ioritv of
| the questions which arise between nations
may, without compromising the national
honor. be submitted to arbitration The
administration of President Mckinley did
well to aid in the creation of The Hague
tribunal, and President Roosevelt is enti-
tied to great credit for being the first to
invoke it's jurisdiction In the settlement of
the Pious fund cas- SEES
Our relations with the world were never
better. We have avoided all entangling al
liances, and, in the language of the emf
nent Secretary of State, we are without an
| ally and without an enemy"
The convention wisely declared in favor
| of protection. which guards and develops
| our industries. and that the measure of
| protection should always at least equal the
| difference in the cost of production at home
| and abroad
| This principle was embodied in the plat
! form of the convention which first nomi-
| mated Abraham Lincoln, and 1t has contin-
ued to be one of the cardinal doctrines of
| the republican party during the forty-four
years which have elapsed since then. 1t
| has become incorporated into the public
| Law, and has become the foundation of our
| industrial system. 1t has been regarded
| by the republican party a reasonable
| and appropriate exercise of the legislative
| power when imposing duties upon imports
| TO discriminate I'm favor of American in
| dustries. This principle is dictated by q
due regard for our enterprise and industry
| and is founded upon the highest considera-
| tons of national interest.
| The democratic convention which lately
| assembled at st. Louis denounced ''protec-
| ton as a robbery of the many to enrich the
| few and favored revision and gradual
| reduction of the tariff
| The Issue is thus distinctly made. IT is
by no means new one, for while the re-
publican party has uniformly adhered to
| the policy of protection the democratic
| party has been consistent in it's opposition
1t has held to the doctrine OF a revenue
| tariff. and during all the years of the con-
test has maintained that the protective
| system was opposed to good morals, in con.
travcntion of the Constitution and In VIC
lation of sound economics. The objections
| which are now urged against 1t are only G
| repetition of those which have found utter
| ance for many years. The difference be
tween the parties is radical and funda
| mental.
Principle of Protection Involved.
1t involves the principle of protection apt
not simply the measure of the duties to b,
laid.
A revision of duties should be made onl,
when conditions have SO changed that the
public interest demands their alteration
and they should be so revised as to pre-
serve and not destroy the protective prin
ciple.
A revision and reduction by those wht
regard the tariff as robbery must awaken
| serious apprehension among all whose capi
| tai is employed who engaged a
labor in the various enterprises through
out the country, which depend in larg,
measure upon the maintenance, of the pro
tectve system. revision of the tariff
along revenue lines means the increased