The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-06-21

We shall ask it because the I'm;
broken record of the Republican party
in the past is an assurance OF the sin
cerityg Of our declarations and the fl.
deity with which we shall give them
effect. Because we have been con
slant in principle, loyal to our beliefs
and faithful to our promises, we are
entitled to be believed and trusted
now.
We shall ask it because the charac'
ter of the party gives assurance Of
good government great political
organization, com petent to govern, is
not chance collection of individuals
brought together for the moment as
the shifting sands are piled up by
wind and sea, to be swept away, to
be formed and reformed again. 1t is
a growth. Traditions and sentiments
reaching down through struggles OF
years gone, and the stress and heat OF
old conflicts, and the influence OF lead
ers passed away, and the ingrained
habit of applying fixed rules of inter
DretatiOn and of rhought--an give to
a political party known and inalien-
in it's deliberate Judgment and ulti-
mate action, like results for good or
bad government. We do not deny
that other parties have in their mem
hership men Of morality and patriot
ism: but we assert with confidence,
that above all others, by the inf1u-
ences which gave it birth and have
maintained it's life, by the causes for
which it has striven, the ideals which
it has followed, the Republican party
as a party has acquired a character
which makes its ascendancy the best
guarantee OF a. government loyal to
principle and effective in execution.
Through it more than any other po-
litical organization the moral sentI-
ment of America finds expression.
1t cannot depart from the direction OF
it's tendencies From what is has
been may be known certainly what it
must be. Not all Of us rise to its
standard. not all of us are worthy OF
its glorious history; but as whole
this great political organization-the
party of Lincoln and N1cKinley-can~
not fail to work in the spirit Of its
past and in loyalty to great ideals.
We shall ask the continued conf
dence of the people because the can
didates whom we present are Of
proved competency and patriotism,
fitted to fill the Offices for which they
are nominated. to the credit and honor
of our country.
We shall ask it because the present
policies of our government are bene-
fetal and ought not to be set aside;
and the peoples business is being we'll
done, and ought not to be interfered
With.
Have not the American people rea-
son for satisfaction and pride in the
conduct of their government since
the election of 1900, when they rem
derer their Judgment of approval up
on the first administrat ton of Presi
dent Mckinley? Have we not had
an honest governm ent? Have not the
men selected for Office been men OF
good reputation who by their past
lives had given good evidence that
they Were honest and competent? Can
any private business be pointed out
IN which laDses from honesty have
been SO few and SO trit1ing proportion
ately. as in the public service of the
United States? And when they have
occurred, have not the Offenders been
relentlessIy prosecuted and staInly
punished without regard to political
! or personal relations?
Have we not had an effective gov
| eminent? Have not the laws been en-
forcedo Has not the slow process of
legislative discussion upon many Sc
rious questions been brought to prac-
teal conclusions embodied in bene-
fetal statutes? and has not the Exec
utive proceeded without vacil1atiOn
or weakness to give these effects? Are
not the laws of the United States
Obeyed at home? and does not our
government command respect and
honor throughout the world?
Have we not had safe and conser-
vative government? Has not prop
erty been protected? Are not the
fruits OF enterprise and industry Sc
cure? What safeguard of the consti-
tuition for vested right or individual
freedom has not been scrupulously
observed? When has any American
Administration ever dealt more CON
siderately and wisely with questions
which might have been the cause of
conflict with foreign powers? When