The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-16

republican nomination as candidate for
president:
Oyster Bay, ". Y,
September II, 1904.
HON. j. G. CANNON,
Chairman OF Notification Committee.
My Dear Sir: 1 accept the nomina-
ton for the Presidency rendered me BIZ
the Republican National Convention.
and cordially approve the platform
adopted by it, In writing this letter
there are certain points upon which II
desire to lay especial stress.
DEMOCRATS AT A LOSS FOR AN
ISSUE.
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. 1t 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 a loss, both as to
what it is that they really believe, and
as to how firmly they shall assert their
belief in anything. In fact, it is doubt
rul II they venture resolutely to press
a single issue: as soon as they raise
n they shrink from it and seek to ex-
plain II away. Such an attitude is the
probably inevitable result of the effort
to improvise convictions; for when thus
lmproVlsed, 1t IS natural that they
should be held in a tentative manner
Inc party now in control Of the gov
eminent is troubled by no such difficult
ties. We do not ave to guess at our
own convictions, and then correct the
guess II 1t seems unpopular. The princi-
pies which we profess are those in
which We believe with heart and soul
and strength. Men may differ from US;
hnf rhavr annnf gong nc n r obiffinA--
or insincerity- The policies we haye|
pursued are those which we earnestly
hold as essential to the national well
fare 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
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 il
on in the past.
A party whose members are radically
at variance on most vital issues, and if
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 it's convictions before cleo
ton cannot be trusted to adhere with
tenacity to any principle after election.
A party fit to govern must have con
victions. In 1896 the Republican party
came nto power, and in 1900 it retain
ed power on certain definite pledges,
each of which was scrupulously fulfill
ed. But in addition to meeting = and
solving the problems which were issues
in these campaigns, it also became
necessary to meet other problems which
n pncn oTfA- nIAntian- nnI - &c No ~ III
part of our claim to public confidence
that these were solved with the same
success that had attended the solution
Of those concerning which the battles
at the polls were fought. In other
words, our governmental efficiency
proved equal not only to the tasks that
were anticipated. but to doing each
unanticipated task as it arose.
REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN BE
TRUSTED.
When the contest of 1896 was decided.
the question of the war with Spain
was not an issue When the contest
OF 1900 was decided, the shape which
the Isthmian Can question ultimately
took could not have been foreseen but
the same qualities which enabled those
responsible for making and administer
ing the laws at Washington to deal
successfully with the tariff and the cur
rency, enabled them also to deaf with
the Spanish war; n the same quail
tiles which enabled them TO act wisely
in the Philippines and in Cuba, also
enabled them to do their duty as re-
CARDS the problems connected with the
trusts, and to secure the building of
the Isthmian Canal. We 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. Therefore
our promises may surely be trusted as
regards an issue that is now before the
people; and we may equally be trusted
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 misrepre-
sented them; for a truthful recital
would leave no room far adverse COM
ment.
PANAMA DEALT WITH IN GOOD
FIATH.
Panama offers an instance in point.
Our opponents can criticiSe what we
did in Panama only on condition OF
ministration behaved throughout not
only with good faith, but with extra
ordinary patience and large generosity
toward those with whom it dealt. 1t
was also mindful of American interests.
1t acted in strict compliance with the
law passed by Congress. Had not
Panama been promptly recognized, and
the transit across the Isthmus kept
onan IN accordance with 0ur fraa ~