Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-15
Strong Statements Of Repub-
Iican Faith.
President Roosevelt Questions the
Sincerity Of His Opponents.
MONROE DOCTRINE As An ISSUE.


n -
Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept 12-Presi
dent Roosevelt has written letter Il
Joseph G. Cannon, chairman Of th'
notification committee of the repub
lican national convention. formal,
accepting the nomination for presi
dent. The letter is in part as follows
My Dear Sir; accept the nomination
for the presidency rendered me by thu
republican national convention, and cor
daily approve the platform adopted BY
1t. In writing this letter there are GER
tain points upon which desire to lay
especial stress.
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. It is not unfair to
say that, having abandoned most Of the
principles upon which they have insisted
during the last eight years, they now
seem at loss, both as to what 1t is that
they really believe, and as to how firmly
they shall assert their belief in any
thing. In fact, 1t is doubtful If they ven
ture resolutely to press single issue;
as soon as they raise one they shrink
from 1t and seek to explain 1t away.
/. cuCH dH Is the pIOpduly iuCN-
liable result of the effort to improvise
convictions; for when thus improvised,
1t is natural that they should be held in
a tentative manner.
The party now In control of the gov
ernment is troubled by no such diffl-
culties. We do not have to guess at our
own convictions and then correct the
guess If 1t seems unpopular The prin-
ciples 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 thickness
or insincerity. The policies we have
pursued are those which we earnestly
hold as essential to the national welfare
and repute. Our actions 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 administration and legis-
lation during r.the last seven years. In
which we have had complete control OF
the government. We intend In the fu-
ture to carry on the government In the
same way that We have carried 1t on In
the past.
A party whose members are radically
at variance on most vital issues, and II
united at all, are only united on issues
where their attitude threatens wide
spread disaster to the whole country,
cannot be trusted to govern in any mat
ter. A party which, with facile ease.
changes all its convictions before elec-
tion cannot be trusted to adhere with
tenacity to any principle after election.
A party fit to govern must have convic-
tions. ftas A
In 1895 the republican party came into
power and in 1900 1t retained power on
IN, v1o ~ xulrtnh
was scrupulously fulfilled. But in ad-
diton to meeting and solving the prob
lens which were issues in these cam
paigns, 1t also became necessary to meet
other problems which arose after cleo
ton; and 1t is no small part of our claim
to public confidence that these were
solved with the same success that had
attended the solution Of those concern
Ing which the battles at the polls were
fought. In other words, our govern
mental efficiency proved equal not only
to the tasks that were anticipated. but
to doing each unanticipated task a. It
arose.
When the contest of 1895 was decided
the question Of the war with Spain, was
not an issue. When the contest of 1900
was decided the shape which the 18TH
mian canal question ultimately took
could not have been foreseen. But the
same qualities which enabled those re-
sponsible for making and administering
the laws at Washington to deal success
fully with the tariff and the currency
enabled them also to deal with the Span
fish war; and the same qualities which
enabled them to act wisely in the Phil
iEpines and in Cuba also enabled them
to do their duty as regards the problems
connected with the trusts, and to secure
he ~ fath
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. There
fore, our promises may surely be trusted
as regards any issue that is now before |
the people; and we may equally be trust |
ed to deal with any problem which may |
hereafter arise. So well 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 them only when they have |
first misrepresented them; for a truth |
ful recital would leave no room for ad- |
verse comment
Panama offers an instance in point.
Our opponents can criticise what we did |
In Panama only on condition OF mis-
stating what was done. The adminis-
lration behaved throughout not only with |
GOOD faith. but with extraordinary pa
Hence and large generosity toward those
with whom II dealt. II was also mind
ful Of American interests. II acted IN
strict compliance with the law passed
W congress. Had not Panama been
promptly recognized and the transit
across the isthmus kept open. In accord
lnce with treaty rights and obligations,
here would have ensued endless guer-
rilla warfare and possibly foreign com
pllcations; while all chance Of building
he canal would have been deferred. GER
iainly for years. perhaps for a genera
don or more. Criticism Of the action In
his matter is simply criticism Of the
lnly possible action which could have
secured the b1ildlng OF the canal; as
veil as the peace and quiet which we
lere. By treaty. bound 20 preserve along
ne nne Of transit across the isfhmus.
ne service rendered this Country In So
'uring tho perpetual right TO construct.
and defend the canal was 20
rrcat that ou caDoneutH do nG- ven-