The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-19

be our misfortune. The republican party. therefore. will offer every announcement to the thrift. industry and intelligence that will better their prospect of higher attainment.
 ''I believe in the maintenance of such an army. the upbuilding of such a navy as will be the guarantee of the protec- ton of American citizens, and an omen of peace: that at every exposed point we may be so fortified that no power on earth may be tempted to molest us. believe in the restoration of the Ameri- can merchant marine and in rendering whatever financial aid may be necessary to accomplish this purpose.
 "I approve the movement for the con- servation of our natural resources; the fostering of friendly foreign relations; the enforcement of our civil service law; and the enactment of such statutes as will more securely and more effeeuvely preserve the public health.
 "Our platform, as it should do, pledges adherence to the policies of President Roosevelt; promises to continue the work inaugurated during his administration, to insure to persons and property every proper safeguard and all necessary strengthening of administrative methods will be provided to furnish efficient il- spection and supervision, and prompt
 
 ton and wrong.
 q have not touched upon every plank of our splendid platform, but l reterate my full and unqualified approval or US every promise
 T emphasize as my partyS creed ana my faith thai in legislation and admin istration favor should be extended to no class, no sect no race, no section as op- posed to another. To foster class hatred, to foster discontent, is un-republican and un-American Our party stands on the declaration that all men are created with equal rights and it will have no part in the enactment or execution or any law that does not apply alike to all good American citizfns; whatever their ealing or wherever taey live. It will allow no man in our land to have advantage in law over any other man. It offers no safeguard to tapital that is not guar anteed to labor; no protection to the workman that is not insured to his employer It l would offer to each and to both in pursuit of health ana nap piness and prcsperity every possible ad- vantage
 .'The work that has been given the immense imponance Much of that work has been fully accomplished some has vet to be comueted Reform declarations once in our platform and no longer there, are omitted teeause they have become accomplished acts On the other hand, democratic declarations have been abandoned bepuse the voters have pro- nounced them Ito be unwise and unsa1e and unsuited to our times and our coun- try.
 Shall the people rule? is declared by the democratid platform and candidate to be the overs adowing issue now under discussisn. It is no issue. Surely the people stell rule, sure the people have ruled; slrely the people do rule. No party rulesl The party, commissioned by the people lis simply the instrument to execute thd peoples will, and from that party whi,h does not obey thelr eN- pressed will, oI which lacks the wisdom to lead success billy, the people Will Wlth- draw their commission.
 For half a century with but two ex- ceptions, the Eeople have commissioned the republican, party to administer the national government; commissioned it because it's declared principles appealed to their best Judgment: commissioned it because thd common sense of the American peopb scented danger in dem ocratic polfciesl Ours always has been. always must bs. a government of the people That Ihrty will after March next. execute dd laws and enact new ones as in N.yember it is commits stoned by the people to do. That com mission will bt from an untrammeled American electorate. Shame on the party which shame on the candidate who insults the American people by suggestion ot declaration that ma iority of it's electorate is venal. The American vder, with rare exception, in casting hs ballot, Is guided by his best judgment, by his desire to con serve his own and the public veal.
 "The overihadowing issue of the campaign really is: Shall the admins tration of President Roosevelt be ap- proved; shall party of demonstrated capacity in administrative affairs be continued in power; shall the reins of government be placed in experienced hands or dS the people prefer to trust their destinies to an aggregation of experimental malcontents and theorists. whose only claim to a history is d party name they pilfered.
 with a record of four decades of wise legislation two score years of faithful administrations; offering it's fulfilled pledges as a guaranty of it's promises for the future, the republican party appeals to he people and, with full confidence in their wisdom and patriotism, awaits the rendition or the