Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11

''''Se"HuinB the 100 i''f
s""e'ions and statements TO ING coh-
uury. there 10 much that is soou ia our
oo"st'tution and In our government ~'o
shouid DO held fast; upon IL inc rep
ioso"sAnVe and the people shoui" S.h'u
p~. i rear that the terms 'progresSNe
anu eactionary" are too vaguely ana
cs1eiesSiy used BY some man !"
oiassined as a non-progressive II he Goes
not FOLLOW bindly some self-appointed
leader and will not take orders from
lew VINO arrogate to themselves the
rlsht TO determine what is and what Is
| not progressive. I do not object TO good
oAean. political fight, but II should be a
hsnt Tor principle I have no use Tor
guerilla warfare nor for that class OF
warriors who scuttle ships or fire upon
their own comrades.
| ms Is republican meeting. as under
stand It, and I desire In as brief man.
her as possible to discuss the Issues which
are involved In the preliminary republican
campaign this year
REMUNERATION THE RULD.
During the history Of the Republican
party. which has been co-extensive with
the history Of the most progressive ana
important period Of our life as nation
'hat party has never failed but twice to
renominate an elected President for
second term. The first exception was that
OF rutherford b. Hayes IN 1880: the sec
ond that of Theodore Roosevelt in 1908.
but neither Of these Presidents was a
candidate for Reelection.
Every republican national convention
mas been able to endorse the then
exlsting administration and the party has
maze It's campaign upon tho record. I
submit. as good party principle. that
the precedent Of renominating a man who
mas given good administration Is a wise
one. DO not understand me to say that
ono term deserves another. but. rather.
| mat one good term deserves another. The
| ialiure TO renominate man who Is will
ing to stand for recollection means
reputation OF his administration and Is
| equivalent to condemnation OF the party
responsible for that administration.
Has President Taft fallen short of what
he ought to have done? Has he been
found wanting according to the republi-
can standard? In other words have the
plans ana specifications Of this adminis-
tration been such that We should reject
|
these questions that l propose to answer
as briefly as possible.
SPECTACULAR AND POPULAR.
President Taft succeeded one OF the
most spectacular and most popular
Presidents this country ever had II
is possible that 1t may hereafter have
stIll more spectacular ono. but It Is
doubtful II we ever will have more
popular President that was Th ,odore
Roosevelt He is my warm personal
friend and admire him greatly. had
hoped that he would always hold the
exalted position he has heretofore oc-
cupied In the hearts of the American
people.
He was the man for his particular
hour. He aroused the public con-
science as no man had ever aroused
1t before.
Theodore Roosevelt pointed the way.
William H. Taft has travelled the road.
These two men are great Their
natural instincts are the same. Both
honest. Each has the good OF the
country at heart. But they are wide
ly different in their methods. One
K.
knew that tho press was looking for
the spectacular the unusual. 1t want
ed news and news has come to mean
the things that ought not 70 occur.
President Taft would not advertise
and, though maliened, he answered
not. Honest himself AMI judicially
minded. he has giv,n every man and
institution of our country the benefit
of the doubt until the evidence was all
in.
II is probably true that we have never
had n wiser or safer President so far as
our foreign relations are concerned than
President Taft. What opportunities for
international trouble arose in Mexico In
the southern republics, and In Russia and
China Jingosts from all over the coun-
try were demanding that the President
should intervene and stop the revolution
| ir Mexico. Speeches were made on the
| floor Of Congress, asking that United
States troops be sent into Mexico. but
the President. realizing the awful results
Of war and understan ding the duty Of this
republic. as a conservator Of peace. re-
| fused to heed their demands.
SENDS TROOPS TO BORDER
He did, however order certain Of our
troops down TO the Mexican border In or
der that whatever moral influence might
be exerted by this action could be used
In preserving neutrality along our border
and the result showed the wisdom OF his
act You can recall. however. the abuse
that was heaped upon him during this
time and how he was criticised for send.
| - ttAr p
talk war and jingoism at that critical
hour.
We may have trouble with Mexico. but
II will not occur because OF the hasty or
tll-considered action Of the President.
Our annual appropriation for wal
preper ations and for the result Of wars
in the past IL the greatest Of all our APP
propriations by many millions Of dollars
The burden. for such II truly IL, should
teach US, measured by the financial
standard alone to guard against any
further burden as the result of new wars
But there are other than financial reasons
which should prompt o,r nation to lead
in the efforts for universal peace
AWFUL RESULTS OF WAR
President Taft realizing the awful re,
suits Of war and the glorious conditions
of honorable peace, has taken the lead
In q great world peace movement, He has
negotiated treaties Of peace with France
and Great Britain whereby all inter
national differences could be submitted e
arbitration.
Never before in the history Of our gov.
eminent has there been such determined
and intelligent efforts made to conduc,