The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-09-08
THE PRESIDENTS
SPEECH OF ACCEPTANCE.

editor has had requests to write VIVA
he thinks of President Wilson's &C
dress at Shadow Lawn, N. j., las
Saturday in reply to the notificatlo
committee. Another request was t
the effect that he reply to the edio
rial attack on the President by tn
Times-Union of Monday. To do tn
latter would require reading of tn
attack. and we must ask to be eX
cused.
It doesn't matter much what the
average Florida editor thinks of Pres
ident Wilson at this time. The great
thought of Floridians and of demo-
Gratis in all sections of the union con-
cern his prospects for reelection.
The wonderful achievements Of his
administration will they be recog-
nizcd and appreciated? Will the
country come to understand what
wonderful man now occupies the
White House and return him to now
err for another four wears? These
are the questions which 9npeal to
the democracy of Florida ard the ma
ton.
During the past week the editor has
read many comments on the presi-
dents eDepch of accnDtance. and in
the main these are most compliment
tarv.
In another department Of the narer
The News is nuhliehi0~ the nreSi- |
dents address in full. It trusts that
every reader of this parer will read !
it carefully.
And in place Of any comments on
the part of the editor of The News,
we want our readers to know more
of what the great outside world is
thinking end saving at this time con-
cerning that address, as well rs the
place President Wilson holds in the
estimation of the thinking mon of |
the country. For this reason we
give below excrepts from an editorial
in the New York Times of last Sun
day, this paper being selected because
Of the well-known standing of the
Times as a conservative newspaper.
1t reflects a large majority of the in
telligent thought of the country in
this contest. The Times says:
"The more the people of the coun
try read and ponder Mr.. Wilson's
speech of acceptance the better they
will like it. Frequent perusal will
not diminish the respect and fear with
which the author of it is regarded by
his opponents. 1t is an eXtraordi-
narily effective campaign utterance.
Mr.. Wilson is in the highly favorable
position of being able to make his ap-
peal to the country upon the basis,
not of promises, but of achievements.
It is year of "reckoning and assess
nent" He points to granite wall
of constructive action by the Demo-
cratic Party and invites the Republi-
cans to launch their assaults and
peat their heads against it. 1t is in
ruth, as we have often pointed out,
an astonishing body of achievement
or one Administration. We may l
question the policy of Government
merchant marine, of the Farm Credits =
lct. of some of the labor enactments, {
We may condemn the Seamen's bill, c
,ut against these blemishes upon the S
ecord there are to be placed the long :
waited, constructive, and remedial v
egislation of the Federal Reserve law, y
he reform of fragrant tariff abuses, t
he creation of the Trade Commission
nd perhaps above all, as vital to the \
ation's safety, the great national de-
ense measures just enacted. * * c
"Mr. Roosevelt may storm and Mr.. Il
hughes may direct his futile phrases <
gainst the Administration course :
With Mexico, but the Presidents de-
ense stands four square against them I
Il. We should not say defense, it IS Il
defiance to those who assail it. The f
American people like boldness in a il
andidate and Mr.. Wilson does not +
lck that quality. The guiding prin- 6,
iple of his Mexican policy has been -
is desire to leave the people of our +,
ister republic free to achieve their W
berties, to rid themselves Of the s.
ternaI pest of revolutions and dicta- Il II
2rs and to establish a government =
.eated by themselves for themselves W
Lr. Wilson sent troops into Mexico o
ecause there were no military forces II
lere to protect our border from at
ok. This was not intervention with F
spect to any hope or plan of the
exicans to establish a lawful gov IN
nment and restore order. 1t was Pa
aid to them. If suspicious were III
gendered and misunderstanding m
aatcd by themselves for themselves, M
l.I- f,.,,, +bo ,,,ocbina +iOnS of liz