The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-09
ROOSEVELT WILLING
To GO TO Chicago

III uU III UllluROU
oyster BAY, y. Y, June s.--An-
nouncing today that he had received
from Senator William -. jackson. of
Maryland, an invitation to come to
Chicago" Colonel Roosevelt said he
would 40 If the Republican Conven-
tion desires me to address it,"
Colonel Roosevelts answer In fun
follows:
Hon. William H. Jackson,
Republican Headquarters,
Chicago, Ill;
In answer to our telegram ! can
only say that the matter lies with the
Republican convention. and that If
the convention desires me to address
H. shall be glad to do so,
Il very earnestly hope that the Re-
puhlicans and Progressives assembled
at Chicago will keep steadily in mind
the gravity of this crisis. not only for
America, but for the world, and the
need that their action. In dignity,
foresight and patriotism, shall rise
level TO the crisis I hope that the
aim will be not merely to nominate
man who can be elected next Mo-
vember, but man of such power,
character. NiFHNldSA tDilNitNiOi anu
proved ability that II elected he will
again place this nation where It be-
longs by making 1t true to itself, and.
therefore. true TO all mankind.
Attacks Upon President.
President Wilson, however ami
able his intention. has rendered to this
people the most evil service that can
be rendered to a great Democracy by
its chosen leader He has dulled the
national conscience and relaxed the
spring of lofty national motive by
, teaching our people to accept high
sounding words as the offset and
atonement for shabby deeds and to use
words which mean nothing in order 10
draw all meaning from those which
have q meaning, 1t will be no easy
task TO arouse the austere self-respeCt
whirh has been lulled TO slumber by
these means.
To this task we should bend our
united energies in the spirit Of Wash
ington and Lincoln, the spirit OF Ecuu-
Inc Democratic leadership, the spirit
which sets the standard to which the
nation ought to rise. and then with
confident hope appeals to the soul Of
the people so that they may ia act
support the standard thus ra -g''
The differences that have divided.
not merely Republicans ana .n-- .-
sives, but good Americans OK all
shades OF political belief, from ono
another In the past sink into nothing
when compared with the issues now
demanding decision, for these issues
are vital to the national life.
They are the issues of n unified
AmeriCanism and of national pre-
paredness, If we are not all of us
Americans and nothing else, scornlng
to divide along lines of section, of
creed or Of national origin. then the
nation itself viii crumble into dust.
III we arc not thoroughly prepared.
II we have not developed a strength
which respects the rights of others
hut which is also ready to enforce
from others respect for it's own rights,
then sooner or later we shall have to
submit TO the will of an alien con-
queror.
Not In Realm of Abstract
These questions arc not in the
realms of abstract thought. They
must be taken out OF the world of
Clondy promise and vague phrasinE
into the world of performance and
Of fact. They are today in concrete
form before you and your fellows for
decision. For two years. in the face
lot the awful world cataclysm
and helpless and has not In the
! smallest degree prepared itself to
| ward off the danger. No promise, no
excuse now made by those RESPONSE
bic for this inaCtion is entitled to Sc
Iious consideration. 1t Is for you and
your associates to- show the people
( that they have worthy alternative
TO which to turn
Discusses German Americans.
IL.
cans. acting through various agencies.
Including so-called5 German American
alliances, are at this moment serving
office on the members of your conven-
tinn that your action must be taken
with a view 10 the interests not of the
/ United States. but of Germany, and
! OF that section Of the German Ameri-
can vote which is anti-American to
! the core. / believe with all my heart
that the action of these sinister pro-
fcssional German Americans will be
repudiated with angry contempt by
the great mass of our fellow citizens
! who are in whole or in part OF Ger
man blood. and who. as l well know.
are unsurpassed In rugged and whole
souled Americanism by any other
citizens OF our land.
But the professional German
Americans are seeking to terrorizc
your convention. for they wish to
elect next Novem Der a man who shan
not he in good faith an American
! President, but the viceroy OF foreign
government
1T is for your convention In en-
phatic fashion to repudiate them
This can be done In effective manner
only II such action Is taken as to
enable Republicans, Progresslves
Democrats, who are true to the prin-
ciples OF Andrew jackson and indie
pendents--in short, all loyal Ameri-
cans-to join in the effort to reach
the goal we all have in view