Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-29
|TAFTS ADDRESS IN ACCEPTING THE NOMINATION

in the cOuntrys crises are any less
earnest and sincere than they would
be had l the right to wear a button
of The Grand Army or of the veteran
association of any of our country's
wars.
The Rights and Progress of the Negro.
The Republican platform refers to
these amendments to the Constitution
that We're passed by the Republican
party for the protection of the negro.
The negro, in the forty years since he
was freed from slavery has made re-
markable progress: He is becomming
a more and more valuable member of
the communities in which he lives.
The education of the negro is being
expanded and improved in every way.
Tie best men of both races. at the
North as we'll as at the South, ought
to rejoice 10 see growing up among
he Southern people an influential Gle
ment disposed to encourage the negro
in his hard struggle for industrial i'll
dependence and assured political
status. The Republican platform.
adopted at Chicago, explicitly demands
race or color, and just as explicitly
declares for the enforcement, and
without reservation in letter and spirit
of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fiji
tcenth Amendments to the Constitu-
ton. 1t is needless to state that /
stand with my party squarly on that
plank in the platform, and believe that
equal justice to all men, and the fair
and impartial enforcement of these
amendments is in keeping with the real
American spirit of fair play.
Army and Navy.
Mr. Mckinley and Mr.. Roosevelt and
the Republican party, nave constantly
advocated a policy with respect to the
Army and Navy that will keep this
Republic ready at all times to defend
her territory and her doctrines, and to
assure her appropriate part in pro-
noting permanent tranquility among
tho nations. ! welcome from whatever
motive the change in the Democratic
attitude toward the maintenance and
support of an adequate Navy, and
hope that in the next platform the
silence of the present platform, in re-
spect to the Army. will be changed to
an acquiescence in its maintenance to
the point of efficiency in connection
with the efficiently reorganized militia
and the National volunteers. for the
proper defense of the country in times
of war, and the discharge of those
duties in times of peace for which the
Army as at present constituted. has
shown itself So admirably adapted in
the Philippines, in San. Franeisco.;in
Cuba, and elsewhere we are a world
power and cannot help it, and, al
though at peace with all the world
and secure in the consciousness that
the American people do ,not desire and
will not provoke n war with any other
country, we must be prudent and not
be lulled into a sense of security which
would possibly expose us to national
humiliation Our best course there
fore is to insist on a constant improve
nient in our navy and its maintenance
at the highest point of efficiency.
Protection of Citizens Abroad.
The position which our country has
won under Republican administrations
before The world should inure to the
benefit of every one, even the hum
blest of those entitled to look to the
regard to race. creed or color. and
whether he is a citizen of the United
States or of any of our dependencies.
In some countries with which we are
on friendly terms, distinctions are
made in respect to the treatment OF
our citizens travelling abroad and hav-
ing pass.o' rts of our Executive. based
on considerations that are repugnant
to the principles of our Government
and civilization. The Republican par
ty and administration will continue
to max" every proper endeaVor to Sc
cure the edition of such dist motions.
which in our eyes are both needless
and opprobrious.
Asiatic immigration.
In the matter of the limitation upon
Asiatic immigration, referred to in the
Democratic platform, it is sufficient TO
say that the present Republican Adj
ministration has shown itself able, by
diplomatic negotiation, and without
unnecessary friction with self-respect-
ing governments, to minimize the evils
suggested. and a subsequent Republi-
can Administration may be counted on
to continue the same policy
CONSERVATION OF NdtionaI Resources,
The conservation of National re-
sources is a subject to which the
present Administration has given
especial attention. The necessity for
comprehensive and systematic i'm
proVcment of our Waterways the
preservation of our SOIL and of our
forests. the securing from private all
preparation the power in navigable
streams. the retention of the undis-
posed of coal lands of the Government
from alienation, all will properly claim
from the next Administration earnest
attention and appropriate legislation.
National Health Bureau.
] have long been of opinion that the
various agencies of the National
Government established for the
preservation of the National health.
scattered through several depart
ments, should be rendered more
efficient by uniting them in bureau
of the Government under competent