Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-11-01
A National Election at Hand.

Only one week hence, on the Sth of
November, occurs the election Of a
president and vice-president of the
United States. In Maine, since the state
election in September, there has been no
active campaigning, no speech making
of any amount, no torchlight parades or
band music TO keep the matter con-
tinuously before the minds of the peo-
pie. Yet Maine has never failed to regis
ter her choice by a large and emphatic
vote in the presidential election, and
there is no reason to think that she will
fail to do so this year.
In some respects it has been peculiar
campaign. Not only in Maine, but in
most of the country, there has been, and
is now, a condition which is regarded by
some as one of apathy. The election
and its result do not constitute the one
topic which is uppermost in mems minds,
as they assemble on the street or in
other places. The excitement, the red
fire, the intensity of feeling, which have
come to be understood as inevitable to
an American political campaign, are
not as much in evidence as usual.
Now the condition is not as apathetic
as some regard it, but there are several
good reasons for the appearance present
ed. In the first place, the voters are
reading and thinking, from day to day,
on matters of present interest, more
than ever before. They are taking a
real interest in the campaign, though
they are not very noisy aboutit. Torch,
light professions and red fire, though
they have their uses, have lost some
thing of their influence and are to an
extent going out of fashion.
But the principal reason for the ap.
parent want of interest lies in the lack
of definite issue to be presented by the
Democratic party. The Republican
party is in control of both the executive
and legislative departments of the
national government. Its policy is
known of all men, and exemplified in the
acts of its administration. Against il
the Democratic party presents no def
mite plan or platform, except one o.
general opposition. What it would d.
if it got control of the government, or o.
any department of it, no one knows
The Democratic national convention
which nominated Parker and Davis, ut
terly unbusinesslike in almost ever!
detail, is a sample of what might be ex
pected of the party if it should be en-
trusted with the control of governmental
affairs.
1t is true that the party did for time
after the campaign was opened grop'
after an issue on which the people might
be reused and rallied, but its search
seemed to be rewarded with nothing bet
ter than the personality of the present
chief executive, and so during most Of
the campaign the thunder of Democratic
speakers and organs has been directed
against President Roosevelt and his
dangerous" and ''imperialistic" ten
denotes. That is the principal reason
why the country is so calm.
For the American people admire and
trust Theodore Roosevelt, and they re-
gard with great satisfaction the prospect
of his triumphant election. Even many
Democrats, we are inclined to think,
look upon it with equanimity. No
president that the country has had in q
generation has had such a hold on the
hearts of the people. Tie bugbear Of
imperialism Scares them not bit.
In the November McClure's, Senator
Lodge sums up the character of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. He says that mo man
has lived the life of his time 30 amply as
he; no one has known humanity in so
many phases, no one has wider sympa-
thies or so many interests" President
Roosevelt's real ''strenuousness, he
says, is simply "the well-Ordered activity
of a very busy man of energy,a man who
thinks and acts quickly, of high ideals,
unquestioned integrity and unwavering
courage" In conclusion he finds in
Theodore Roosevelt, "the typical Ameri-
can" ''brave man and an honest man !;
very human, with no vain pretsnse to
infallibility simple in his home
life, democratic in ways, with the high
est education that the world can give,
kind to the weak, tender and loyal and
true, never quarrelsome, but never
afraid to fight, with strong, sane sense
of honor"
Such is the man for whom We are to
give our votes in few days. Let US see
to it that he gets enthusiastic support
and endorsement, evidenced by arousing
majority in Maine.
Oxford County's Vote.
At the September election a larger
T. n-Ro-J r1.-t, kk.,,