Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-09-12
R0OSEVELT'S LETTER
OF ACCEPTANCE
1t is Not Only Remarkably Strong
Campaign Document But Also an
Important Addition to the PreSi-
dents Literary Successes and
State Papers.

| 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 at
tack them only when they have first
misrepresented them; for truthful
recital would leave no room for ad-
verse comment.
Panama an instance In Point.
Panama offers an instance in point,
Our opponents can criticise what we
did in Panama only on one condi-
tion of misstating what we did. The
administration behaved throughout
not only with good faith, but with ex-
traordinary patience and large generos-
ity toward those with whom it dealt. It
was also mindful Of American interests
1t acted in strict compliance with the
law passed by Congress. Had not Pan
anna 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 generation or
more. Criticism of the action in this
matter is simply criticism of the only
possible action which could have secur-
ed the building of the canal: as well 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 So
curing the perpetual right to construct,
maintain, operate, and defend the ca
nal was so great that our opponents do
not venture to raise the issue In
straightforward fashion; for II SO rails
ed there would be no issue. The de-
cisiye action which brought this sbe-
neficent 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 re-
lations with them, and the power to
make treaties which, when ratified by
the Senate, become under the Consti-
tuition part of the supreme law of the
land. Neither in this nor in any other
matter has there been the slightest
failure to live up to the Constitution
in1letter and in spirit But the Consti-
tuition must be observed positively as
we'll as negatively, The Presidents
duty is to serve the country in accord
ance with the Constitution; and
should be derelict in my duty if used
a false construction OF the Constitu-
ton as shield for weakness and tim
idity; or as an excuse for government
al impotence.
To What Do They Object?
Similar Misrepresentation is the one
weapon of our opponents in regard to
our foreign policy, and the way the
navy has been made useful in carrying
out this policy Here again all that
we ask is that they truthfully state
what has been done. and then say
or not they object to it; for if
continued in power we shall continue
our foreign policy and our handling of
the navy on exactly the same lines in
the future as in the past. To what
phase of our foreign policy and to
what use of the navy. do our oppon-
ents object? Do they object to the way
in which the Monroe Doctrine has been
strengthened and upheld? Never be-
fore has this doctrine been acquiesced
in abroad as it is now; and yet, while
the rights of the weaker re-
publics against foreign aggression, the
Administration has lost no opportunity
% point out to these republics that
hose who seel. equity should come
With clean hands. and that whoever
,laims liberty as right must accept
he responsibilities that go with the
exercise of the right. Do our oppOn-
snts object to what was done In refer
snce to the petition of American citi-
,ens against the Kishenev massacre?
,r to the protest against the treatment
II the Jews in Roumania? or to the ef-
'orts that have been made in behalf Of
he Armenians in Turkey? No other
Administration in our history. no other
IN the world has more
stood for the broadest
spirit OF brotherhood in our common
or has held & more resolute
attitude of protest against every wrong
;aat outraged the civilization of the
lge. at home or abroad. Do our oppon-
snts object to the fact that the iaterna-ss
.ional tribunal at the Hague was res
:ued from impotence, and turned into
! potent instrument for peace among
he nations? This Government haA
Continued on Page Three.