The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-10-12

N.tSl chcotSi, w. o. i'i-'
Mr.. Frank E. Williams,
Editor of the CECIL WING, Elkton,
Nd.
My Dear Editor:-Under the editorial
caption, For Your Consideration" in
your last issue of the CECIL WING, you
ask those Republican friends who are
proposing TO vote for Roosevelt, just
what they are expecting to accomplish
by that course" | am assuming that |
am included in class of persons to wnom
your editorial is directed, and | there
fore gladly reply.
In every new movement there are
many Clements that constitute the per-
sonnet of those backing it. Some OF
these elements may be working for sell
fish reasons, but the vast majority of
this personnel Is prompted by ideals
that are the result of a long process of
Thought by, 1t may be, more than one or
two generations of men and women. No
movement has ever sprung up in
night as some people unacquainted with
the history of great events would have
us believe. Every great prnc.p.e has
bee nthe result of thought gradually
crystallized until 1t takes form in action.
The Progressive movement, of which Mr..
Roosevelt Is the nominal head, is one
such. For years men in both national
parties have been going with indiffer-
ence TO the pots en- national election
day TO choose tie better of two evils,
the Democratic CT the Republican plat
form for the government of their coun-
try. Every election has made these men
realize with added force that the plat
forms were cons .ructed for the purpose
of vote catchers and net for the purpose
of being incorporated in the national
statutes for the ameloraton of the peo-
pie at large. The brazenness with which
the state leaders through their selected
Representatives i'm Congress regularly
violated the pledge 10 the people at last
illuminated in an open and fragrant act
in one of the conventions of the Dig par
ties. This year the peop.e spoke at the
Republican primaries, where they could
speak by direct primaries, and in every
state in which the people had this right
with the exception of two, Mr.. Roosevelt
had plurality of the votes cast, and in
many cases the vote was overwhclm-
ingly in h 5 favor. Ii is ia T to assume
that the stay at-lome vote would III all
these states have been cast for him in
the same proportion ha it been polled
The inference is logical that with nation
wide primaries, he would have swept
practically every state in the Union. Even
with til emethols IN vogue in the several
states for the selection Of National dele
gates for the Republican convention he
had secured a majority of such, if the
National Committee had honestly decld-
ed the contested cases. For the person
who does not believe this is demo-
cratic government, government whe:e
the people shall rule, a government that
has its very foundation IN the right of
the people to choose It's own agents of
government, this article is not written
They VIII not comprehend its significance
or its purpose. ! speak for those who
have faith in the judgment OF the whole
American people.
When the steal of the nomination of
the Republican party was contaminated
at Chicago, the Interests We're sure that
Mr.. Roosevelt and his policies We're con-
signed to oblivion. And basing their
CONCLUSION ON the general facts of his
tory, by reasoned Alright. But it re-
quires the exception to prove the rule,
and the events that followed in such
rapid succession as to throw consterna-
tion into the ranks of the Republican
organization and cause grave anxiety to
their brethren in the Democratic heir
archy, furnish the exception. They had
failed to consider Two factors: First,
that Theodore Roosevelt is the strongest
and most virile leader that America has
ever produced; and second, that the
American people were waiting for a man
who could lead them in "A cause for nu-
man rights. for social justice to all. The
principe has long been forming, with
now and then a breaking from the con-
scious mind into acts of men endeavor-
ing to put it into practice. The day has
come at last when all An ericnns should
rejoice that human rights are placed
above the dollar, that slavery in more
desp.cabe for mthan the world has ever
known before shall not walk under the
cloak of legitimate business, and that
government of the people, for the peo-
pie and by the people shall not perish
fro mthe earth" 1t IS a PRINCIPLE
for which we are voting, dear editor
and principle for which we, while We
live, shall continue 20 vote .ung after
the Republican party and the Democratic
party have been CEASED among the an
diquities of politics. 1t is the question of
whether our government shall be really
democratic or the business of few men