Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-09-16
ROOSEVELT S ACCEPTANCE.

/ ceptance stretches to the dimensions
of a pamphlet 1t is longer than some
OF the gospels That part OF it which
is at once really pertinent and imTor-
tant is contained in the first sentence
The rest is mainly TRADE; an I'M
warranted imputation Of insinceriiies,
Inconsistencies and misstatemebt,
upon the part Of his political opPo-
neuts, aud an equally warranted
brag Of the peri. ctions OF his own adj
ministfative exploits and policies. On
this basis OF biane on the enc hand
aud boast on he other, lie builds up
his argument and makes bis appeal
to the country.
There never before has been issued
from the White House on any occc-
sion missive OF public character
coached in language OF such studied
insult to one-halt OF the people Of the
United States 1t reads like speech
from the throne of God -auointcd
ruler, instead of ali address OF publ
servant giving an account OF his
stewardship. II is "a breaking forth
which makes only too evident what
has been going on in the bottled-up
seclusion OF Oyster Bay.
The letter gives evidence that its
author has been disquieted by the
criticisms OF the administration at
tending the dismem berment CT Col
ON bia and the recognition of Panama
But no answer is made to the real
point of controversy-the breaking
OF faith with a weak neighboring re-
public. The power to make treaties
does not carry with it the power to
break them. No possible advantage
obtained in furthering the desire OF
the nation for the construction OF the
Panama canal can justify an act of in
ternational perfdy.
1t is evident that President Roose-
welt perceives the question of tariff
revision to be the real and uppermost
issue between the parties at this time
In curious reversal of his own former
arguments and opinions, he labors 10
maintain the "stand pal" position OF
his party. He insists that the interest
OF the farmers and of other consumers
not directly identified with manutac
turing operations are bound up in the
maintenance of the p1ohibitive rates
OF tariff duty He even goes SO far as
to assert that farm lands have lnvari-
ably increased in value with the in
crease OF manufacturing establish
ments. This Will be news of great in
terest to farmers in such manutactul-
ing centers as Pennsylvania, New
York and New England. and to farm
, ers of other states the price of whose
products is fixed by the cost OF trans
portation from the cheap productive
lands of the West and the sale of sur
plus production in foreign markets.
But the most audacious misrepre-
sentation is reached in the effort to
show that high duties must be ma in
tanned on products that have been
unduly advanced by the trusts the
attempt to balance the farmers on
one shoulder ard the trusts on the
other is perhaps the most audacious
feature of the letter of acceptance. The
President is conscious that he needs
the support OF both. He even throws
aside long, coaxing hint to the ship
subsidists that in "some way" by APP
propriate legislation they may be al
lowed to reach their plundering hands
into the public chest.
Extravaganza is defended as nee
essity; tariff eXtortion as public ben :
eficence; the overlooking of weaker
peoples as a grand missionary enter
prise to be maintained by the Big
Stick on sea and land All through
the letter the personality OF the ruler
and commander-in chief is made in
sistentls evident. He says 1--WE, ,
speaking for the Grand Old Party but
be means ''I.' If he shall be elected
President of the United States for
four years there will be four years of
Observation-Disclosures Record.
Miss Henrietta Hannis CT Washing