The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-12

n 1S1ER BAY, n. Y. Sept %
u l904.-Hon. J. G. Cannon. Chair
man of the Notification Com
mittee.-My Dear Sir: 1 accept the
nomination for the presidency ten
dered me by the Republican ma
tlonal convention, and cordially ap-
prove the platform adopted by il. In
writing this letter there are certain
points upon which 1 desire TO Law eSpe-
eial stress.
1t is difficultto find out from the ut
terances of our opponents what are the
real issues upon which they propose
TO wage this campaign II is not IN
Ialr 10 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 10 how firmly they shall assert their
belief in anything. In fact, it is doubt
tul If they venture resolutely TO press
a single issue; as soon as they raise
one they shrink from il and seek to
explain IL away. Such an attitude is
the probably inevitable result of the eff
fort to improvise convictions; for when
thus imprOvised it is natural that they
should be held in a tentative manner
We, Us and Co.
The party now in control Of the GOV
eminent is troubled by no such diff
culties. We do not have TO guess at
our own convictions, and then correct
the guess if it seems unpopular. The
principles 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 stiffness or insincerity. The poll
cies we have pursued are those which
we earnestly mold as essential to the
national welfare and repute. Our ac-
lions 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 ad-
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 it on in the past
Not as to Reciprocity.
A party whose members are radical
ly at variance on most vital issues.
and if united at all. are only united
on issues where their attitude threatens
widespread disaster 20 the whole coun-
try. cannot be trusted to, govern in any
matter a party which, with facile
ease changes all its convictions before
election cannot be trusted 10 adhere
with tenacity TO any principle after
election. A party fit To govern must
have convictions, In 1896 the Repub-
lean party came into power. and in
1s0c it retained power or certain def
mite pledges, each Of which was scru-
PulOusiy fulfilled. But in addition to
meeting and solving the problems which
were issues i'm these campaigns, il also
became necessary to meet other prob
lens which arose after election; and
it is no small part Of our claim 10 pub
lie 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 efficien-
cy proved equal not only to the tasks
that were anticipated, but to doing each
task as it arose.
People Asked to Believe.
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 canal question ultimately took
could not have been foreseen. But the
same qualities which enables those res
ponsible for making and administering
the laws at Washington 10 deal sue
cessfully with the tariff and TIE cur
rency. enabled them also to deal with
the Spanish war; and the same quail
ties which enabled them 10 act wisely
in the Philippines and in cuba also
enabled them TO do their duty as re-
trusts. and to secure the building OF
the Isthmian canal. We are content TO
rest our case before the American peO-
pie upon the fact that TO adherence to
a lofty ideal we have added proved
efficiency Therefore, our
promises may surely be trusted as re-
CARDS any issue that is now before the
people: and we may equally be trusted
10 deal with any problem which may
hereafter arise.
So well has the work been done that
our opponents do not venture 10 recite
the facts about our policies or acts.
and then oppose them. They attack
them only when they have first mis-
them: for a truthful re-
cital would leave no room for adverse
comment.
Rape of Colombia.
Panama offers an instance in point.
Our opponents can criticise what We
cid in Panama only on condition of
what was done The ad-
behaved throughout. not
only with good faith, but with extra
ordinary patience and large generosity
toward those with whom il dealt. 1t
was also mindful of American inter-
in,
the law passed by congress. Had not
Panama been promptly recognized, and
the transit ACROSS the isthmus kept
open, in accordance with our treaty
rights and obligations. there would
have ensued endless guerrilla warfare
and possibly foreign complications.
while all chance of building the canal
would have been deferred. certainly for
years, perhaps for a generation or more.
Criticism of the action in this matter
is simply criticism of the only possible
action which could have secured the
building of the canal; as we'll as the
peace and quiet which we were. by
treaty. bound TO preserve along the
line of transit across the isthmus. The
service rendered this country in secur-
ing the perpetual right te construct.
operate, and defend the ca
nal was SO great that our opponents
do not venture 10 raise the issue i'm
straightforward fashion; for if 50 raised
there would be no issue. The decisive
action which brought about this benef-
cent result Was the exercise By the
president of the powers vested in him,
and in him alone, BY the constitution.
the power TO recognize foreign govern
ments by entering into diplomatic reia-
tons with them. and the power 10
make treaties which. when ratified by