Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-08
ROOSEVELT MAY
ADDRESS CONVENTION


merely Republicans and Progressives,
but good Americans of all shades of
! political belief sink into
nothing when compared with the is
sues now demanding decision
the isues of unified Americanism and
national preparedness"
The answer in full follows:
Honorable William B. Jackson,
Republican Headquarters,
Chicago, Ill.
"In answer to your telegram l can
| only say that the matter lies with the
Republican convention and that If the
convention desires me to address it 1
shall be glad to do so.
II very earnestly hope that the Re-
| publicans 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, fore
sight and patriotism shall rise level to
the crisis. l hope that their aim will
be not merely to nominate man who
can be elected next November, but
man of such power, character. stead
fast conviction and proved ability that
II elected he will again place this ma
| ton where il belongs by making 1t
| true to itself and therefore true to all
mankind. President Wilson, however
amiable 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
TO draw all meaning from those which
| have meaning. 1t will be no easy
task to arouse the austere self-respect
which has been lulled to slumber by
these means To this task we should
bend our united energies in the spirit
of Washington and Lincoln, the spirit
OF genuine democratic leadership, the
spirit which sets the standard to which
the nation ought to rise, and then
with confident hope appeal to the soul
or the people so that they may in fact
support the standard thus raised.
Differences Sink Away
The differences that have divided,
not merely Republicans and Progress
sives but good Americans of all
shades of political belief. from one an
other 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 a unified American
ism and of national preparedness. If
we are not all of us Americans and
nothing else, scorning to divide all
lines OF section, of creed or of national
origin, then the nation itself will
crumble into dust.
If we are not thoroughly prepared,
II we have not developed a strength
which respects the rights of others
but which is also ready to enforce
from others respect for its own rights,
then sooner or later we shall have to
submit to the will of an alien con-
queror.
These questions are not in the
realms of abstract thought. They must
be taken out of the world of cloudy
promise and vague phrasing into the
world or performance and of fact.
They are to-day in concrete form be-
fore you and your fellows for decision
For two years. in the face of the awful
world cataclysm, this nation has stood
supine and helpless and has not in the
smallest degree prepared itself to ward
OH the danger. No promise no excuse
now made by those responsible for
this inaction is entitled TO serious con-
sideration. IT is for you and your as
sociates to show the people that they
have worthy alternative to which to
turn.
THE professional Commandment
cans, acting through various agencies.
including so-called German-American
Alliances, are at this moment serving
notice on the members of your con-
with view to the interests, not of the
United States, but of Germany. and of
that section of the German-American
vote which is antl-American to the
core. | believe with all my heart that
the action of these sinister professional
German-Ame mericans will be repudiated
with angry contempt by the great
mass of our fellow-citizens who are in
whole or in part of German blood
and who, as | well know, are unsur-
passed in rugged and whole-souled
Americanism by any other citizens of
our land. But the professional Ger
man. Americans are seeking to ter
rorize your convention; for they wish
to elect next November a man who
shall not be in good faith an American
president, but the viceroy Of a foreign
government. 1t is for your convention
in emphatic fashion to repudiate them.
This can be done in effective manner
only II such action is taken as to en-
able Republicans, Progressives, Demo-
Gratis who are true to the principles
of Andrew Jackson. and Independents
in short. all loyal Americans-to
Join in the effort to reach the goal
we all have in view.
Pleads for Harmony
Can we not, forgetting past differ
ences, join for the safety and honor
of our country to enforce the policies
of genuine Americanism and genuine
preparedness? Surely we can afford
to act in accordance with the words of
Abraham Lincoln when he said May
not all having a common interest re
unite in a common effort to save our
common country? May we ask those
who have not differed with us to join
in this same spirit toward those who
have?' .t~-
"As far as my own soul Is known
to me. it is in this same spirit that
at this time | make my appeal to Re-
! publicans and Progressives assembled
at Chicago. (Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
ARREST VICTIMS sON-N.LAW