The Washington times., 1904-07-27
WEDNESDAY. july q, 1904
President RooseVelt's Speech


deviation, the statements made in the
Republican platform, President RoOse-
veIt's response to the committee nOti-
flying him OF his nomination for the
Presidency, differs greatly from the
platform in the spirit behind the ut
terance
a lawyer in advising his client on
the matter Of letter writing, said that
while what one wrote was important,
far more important was the spirit
with which one wrote. To such as
have believed those who have been
painting the President red. emphasiz-
ing an imaginary skyrocketty mental
condition and declaring him constant
~ on the point of going off at half
cock. this address will be a surprising
revelation.
II is a calm document, vOicing
spirit eminently safe and sane
modest but not seIf-depreciatng, con-
fident but not seIf-assertive, sincere.
reasonable. and genuinely apprecia
tive of responsibilities. Speaking for
the Republican party, President
Roosevelt says:
The principles which we uphold
should appeal TO all our countrymen
in all portions Of our country. Above
all they should give US strength with
the men and women who are the.
spiritual heirs of those who upheld
the hands OF Abraham Lincoln; for
we are striving TO do our work in the
spirit with which Lincoln approached
his"
In fact, it is on account of its lack
Of forceful statement rather than on
account Of its overstatement that the
address of The President is likely to
be criticised. Yet, it should be re-
membered this address has only a
minor function 20 perform. The
weightier part of a candidates official
acts in connection with his nominal
tion is his letter of acceptance.
In the address Mr.. Roosevelt mere
" runs over in rapid succession, the
points of Republican purpose and
Republican achievement. which he
and the representatives of the party
consider paramount at tho present
time In the years that have gone
by" he declares less fiambOyantly
than the Republican platform, we
have made the deed square with the
word; and if we are continued in
power we shall Unswervingly follow
out the great lines of public policy
which the Republican party has al
ready laid down"
In this he considers his party more
fortunate than its opponents, who
now appeal for confidence on the
ground that If triumphant they may
be trusted 10 prove false TO every
principle which in the last eight
years they have laid down as vital"
On the two points upon which the
country is more definitely interested
than the Republican platform would
seem 10 indicate-reciprocity and the
trusts-President Roosevelt has this.
10 say.
I'VE believe in reciprocity with for
eign nations on the terms outlined in
Presidents McKinley's last speech. 20 /
This is a decided advance over the
platform. and If emphatically main
tanned viii go far toward increasing
Republican enthusiasm ia New Eng
land and districts with similar inter
ests
T8rlcF7r-rF TDr-.--4-rTHrr-
garding the trusts is less definite
and consequently less satisfactory TO
the multitude which is anxious for
decisive words and decisive action:
we recognize the organization Of
capital and the organization Of labor
as natural outcomes Of our industrial
system. Each kind of organization
IS 10 be favored SO long as il acts in
a spirit Of justice and of regard for
the rights Of others. Each is 20 be
granted the full protection Of the
law, and each in turn is 10 be held to
q strict obedience 20 the law. for no
man is above II and no man below it.
The humblest individual is TO have
MS llsAtS Sdiesudl It1 dS SCIupulOuSly
as those of the strongest organiZa-
ton, for each IS 10 receive justice,
no more and no less. The problems
with which we have 10 deal in our
modern industrial and social life are
manifold; but the spirit in which it
f. necessary 10 approach their soiu-
tiOn is simply the spirit Of honesty.
There is much virtue in sentiment,
and unquestionably the sentiment
here embodied IS worthy Of general
and generous praise. But there is
still more virtue in action that brings
an acknowledged fact quickly into be-