The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-10-30
RoosEVELTs CONDEMNATION OF
HIMSELF

Just at the closing of the campaign
of 1904, to-wit: On the 31st day of Oc-
tober of that year, Judge Alton B.
Parker, the democratic presidential
nominee, made a speech in Madison
Square Garden, New York City, that
attracted widespread attention, and
struck the public conscience with
such overwhelming force that the po-
litical tide was turned toward him so
plainly that it was observed by even
the most obtuse in such matters.
Judge Parker openly and boldly
charged that the great moneyed in
terests of the country, at the dicta-
ton of Mr.. Cortelyou. were subscrib-
ing large sums of money to the re-
publican campaign fund in the most
shameful and pernicious manner, and
its acceptance by that party meant
peril to our republican institutions.
In the course of his remarks Judge
Parker said:
Now, | know, as you know. that
money is required in order to defray
the expenses Of campaign. Under
right conditions the collection and ex-
penditure are equally legitimate, but
the spectacle of demanding campaign
funds now presented to this country
is, when rightly regarded, of a char
acter to shock the moral sense.
I'VE shall do well to pause for a
moment and ask whittier We are drift
ing-drifting in our indifference to
right standards and to our old-fash-
Toned standards. Congress creates a
new department of commerce and la
Dor Of that department the presi-
dent of the United States appoints a
secretary. That secretary was a pri-
vate secretary. Within that depart
ment provision is made for the collec-
ton from large corporations, includ-
ing the so-called trusts, of informa-
ton which. it is to be borne in mind.
| is to be submitted to the president for
public or private use, as he may di-
rect. By grace Of the same eXecU-
/ tive. this same secretary, through
! whose department this information is
collected, becomes national chairman
Of the republican committee. His
chief duty has been and still is to col
lect funds for the purpose of securing
! the election of the president, and it
! is now notorious that there has been
/ received from this organized impOr-
tunity-whateveT may be the precise
way in which it is made effective-an
! overlooking treasury to the commit
tee, of which the boast is openly and
/ constantly made.
| Although this may be satisfactory
TO the conscience of the republican
leaders, it must, l firmly believe, be
/ condemned as nothing short of scan,
dalous, not alone, by myself or the
democratic party, but by the Ameri
can people as well.
1T is said by Mr.. Hay that the char
acter of Mr.. Lincoln furnishes the
standard for Mr.. Roosevelt in his
conduct as president. I do not have
to pause TO hear your laundering
MOI when 1 ask Would Lincoln have
done or permitted this to be done?
1.-The whole performance is shame
less exhibition Of a willingness to
make compromise with deeeney that
sums Of money may be gathered to
gether sufficiently vast to justify the
insolent boast, even now made, that
there is no question as to the success
which, by such a course, republican
managers confidently predict. The
performance is entitled only to the
credit that it in no sense partakes Of
hypocrisy. 1t is as bold as it is i'm
proper and indefensible."
Judge Parker's arraignment of the
republican party thus strongly, anC
his bold declaration that the great
corporate interests of the country
were furnishing it with the "sinews
of war" in response to the uplift Of
the big stick" produced a profound
sensation. and could he have sustained
his charges by documentary evidence
the election returns in all probability
, would have told a different story. But
unfortunately while the truth was
known the facts were unObtainable.
Observing how swiftly the tide OF
b political sentiment was turning, Pres
ident Roosevelt was keenly aware
that something had to be done. and
done instantly, to stem it, and he was
bold enough to meet the crisis at any
cost.
What did he do? He simulated hot
anger and wrote a vigorous and sen
tentiOus letter of denial in which he
blistered Judge Parker with pretended
| righteous indignation and boldly pro
claimed his charges TO be brutally