Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-04
Mr.. Fairbanks Speech.

"Mr. Root and Gentlemen of the
Committee: / thank you for the very
generous terms in which you have con-
veyed the official notification of my
nomination for Vice-President Of the
United States. The unsolicited and
unanimous nomination by the Repub-
lican party is a call to duty which am
pleased to obey.
Il accept the commission which you
bring with n profound sense Of the
dignity and responsibilities of the ex-
allied position for which l have been
nominated. My utmost endeavOr will
be to discharge i'm full measure the
trust, if the action of the convention
! shall meet the approval of the Amerf-
can people.
1.-THE platform adopted by the con-
vention is an explicit and emphatic
declaration of the principles in entire
harmony with those policies of our
party which have brought great honor
and prosperity to our common country,
and which. if continued. will bring us
like blessings in the future.
| 1.-The monetary and economic policies
which have been so forcibly rean-
nounced lie at the very foundation of
our industrial life and are essential to
the fullest development of our
national strength. They give VI
tality to our manufactures and COM
merce, and if impaired or overthrown.
there would inevitably ensue a period
| of industrial depression. to the serious
injury of the vast interests of both la
Dor and capital.
THE Republican party since it pre-
served the integrity of the Republic
and gave freedom to the oppressed,
never rendered a more important SER
vice to the country than when 1t es-
tablished the gold standard. Under it
we have increased our currency supply
sufficiently to meet the normal re-
quirements of business. 1t is gratify-
ing that the convention made frank
and explicit declaration of the inflexf-
BILE purpose of the party to maintain
the gold standard. 1t is essential not
only that the standard should be as
good as the best in the world, but that
the people should have the assurance
that it will be so maintained.
THE enemies of sound money were
of the gold standard in the platform
lately adopted by the Democratic Ma
| tiOnal Convention. The leader of
Democracy in two great national cam
paigns has declared since the adjourn
ment of the convention that as soon az
, the election is over, he will undertake
| to organize the forces within the DEM
| ocratic party for the next national con-
test. for the purpose Of advancing the
| radical policies for which his element
! of the party stands. He frankly says
| that the money question is for the
| present in allegiance. In view of these
palpable facts. it is not the part of wis
dom to abandon our vigilance in safe
! guarding the integrity of our money
system. We must have not only a
President who Is unalterably commit
ted to the gold standard, but both
houses of Congress in entire accord
with him upon the subject.
I'm Congress and not with the Presi-
dent rests the supreme power to de-
termine the standard of our money.
Though the chief executive should OPP
pose, the Congress, acting within it's
| IL y,
could at any time overthrow or change
the monetary standard.
THE wisdom Of our protective policy
finds complete justification in the in
dustrial development of the country.
This policy has become most vital
part of our industrial system, and
must be maintained unimpaired When
altered conditions make changes in
schedules desirable, their modification
can be safely entrusted to the Republic
can party. If they are to be changed
by the enemies of the system along
free trade lines. uncertainty would
take the place of certainty, and a re-
action would surely follow to the in
jury of the wage earners and all who
are now profitably employed Uncer-
tainty undermines confidence and loss
of confidence breeds confusion and dis
tress in commercial affairs.
1.-The convention was wise not only
in its enunciation of party policies. but
in its nomination of a candidate for the
presidency. During the last three
years. President Roosevelt has been
confronted with large and serious
questions. These he has met and
solved with high wisdom and coura ge
The charges made against him in the
Democratic platform find an irrefuta-
BILE answer in his splendid administra-
ton. never surpassed in all the history
Of the Republic and never equalled by
the party who seeks to discredit it.
, 1.-THE election of the President is i'm
/ peratively demanded by those whose
I success depends upon the continuance