Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-27
Mr.. RoOsevelt's Letter

=
ara. Convention as soon as had
-ece we'd the notification that il had
--r.-ated me for President, now
communicate 10 YOU my reasons for
64-lin!rE ,he honor which so deeply
s--recIate. Since the adjournment Of
,re convention. / have received be-
wen two and three thousand letters
a-- ielecrar7s from men who had sup
r--,e: ne for the nomination, the ma
-o-.,v expressing the desire that /
v-..d refuse 70 run, while minority
y-ras ira; ! should accept the noIni-
rz-.-r. AS Il IS a physical impossi-
t.:ty 70 answer these letters and tele-
c-a-.?s individually. beg Of the cour-
,esy Of the senders that they will ac>
ce-. this public statement IN lieu If
s.c1 answers.
5etore speaking Of anything else,
7.sr 70 express my heartiest and mos,
r-s.:r-ed admiration for the character
and services of the men and women
vto made Up the Progressive Nation
Il Convention in 1918. ] can give them
=, higher praise than TO say that in
al respects they stood level with the
re- a-a women who in 1912 Joined Al
Chicago 70 found the Progressive
Pa--y. These two conventions, in
character in disinterestedness, in Wis
;or n insight. in high purpose, and in
Cee.-a q render practical service to
TIE People. tYpIfed exactly what such
h7c.=e -aCht 10 he in a great self-gov
e-r.rE democracy. They represented
the sc.-.- which moved Abraham Lin
cc'r a-s his political associates dur
Ing - 5acade preceding the close Of
ne C.y.. War. The platform put forth
in .o.- zas much the most important
public co-Inent promulgated in this
country s-nce the death Of Abraham
Lincoln II represented the first effort
on a large scale TO translate abstract
formulas Of economic and social jus
ice into concrete American National
Ism he effort to apply the principles
q. Washington and Lincoln TO the
reed O. the United States in the
-ne..ie1h century No finer effort wa
ever made TO serve the American peo-
re II spirit Of high LOYALTY TO all
-rs. Is loftiest In the American tradt-
ton
Events have shown that the Pro
r-ess!ve Party in 1912 offered the only
alternative TO the triumph ot the
Democratic Party Moreover. these
events have shown that the appHca-
ton Of the principles which We then
advocated is even more necessary 10
TITS nation than We al the time sup
posed.
The results of the terrible world war
q re past two years have now mace
4 EVIDENT 20 all who are willing 70
see. that in this country there must
re spiritual and industrial prepared
ness. along the lines Of efficiency. NJ
loval service 10 the Nation, and OF
PRACTICAL application Of the precep.
ira. each man must be his brothers
keerer, Furthermore, il is no less
evident. that this preparedness for the
tasks If peace forms the only SOUND
basis for that indispensable mllltar"
preraredness which rests on universal
military training. and which nnos eX-
preston in universal obligatory service
IN tine Of war. Such universal oo-
Lgatorv training and service are the
necessary compliments OF universal
suffrage. and represent the realization
If the true American. the democratic.
IDEAL n both peace and war.
Sooner or later the national princl-
Iles championed ny the ProgresslEes
of 1912 must IN their general erect pe
embodied in the structure OF our ma
tonai existence. With all my heart /
shall continue TO work for these great
ideals. shoulder 10 shoulder with the
men and women who in 1912 cham
pione6 them; and l am sure that these
men and women will show like low
ally 70 the other. the Fundamental
Ideals which the events Of the past tW9
wears have proven 70 he vital 10 the
1e-manency Of our national existence
The method by which we are 10 show
cur !cvalty 10 these ideals must ne oe-
tsrr!ned in each case by the ac1uai
even. our LOYALTY is to the fact. 70
Ire rr:nCip!e. 70 the ideal. and not
merely 70 The name, and least OF all TO
the party name.
TIE Progressive movement has been
gwen an incalculable impetus by
ah.: the Progressive Party has done
olr strongest party antagonists nave
accepted and enacted into law, or en-
.od..S in their party Platforms. very
May " our most important prlncl-
Iss Much has been accomplished IN
apsk4ring the public 20 a better IN
-4rs.ardirs Of the problems Of social
1-5 Industrial welfare.
Ya. i has become entirely eVloenl
IA. The reop,e under existing conoi-
'.oas are no: prepared 10 accept new
1arty
I: is IN possible for US ProsressiVes
"a abandon our convictions. But we
are faced with the fact that AS things
actually are the Progressive Natonai
7garlzatlon no longer offers the
means whereby we can make these
onny.C.iors effective in our nationai
Re Urter such circumstances. ou-
duty Is 20 do the best We can, and not
= s.lk because our leadership is re-
.ected That we ourselves continue 10
believe that the course we advocated
vas in the highest interest Of the
American people ia aside from the
question. l, is unpotriotic 10 refuse 10
d the hes. possible merely because the
People have not put us in position 10
90 what We regard as the very pesl.
Il remains for US, good humoredly and
WITH common sense. to face the situa-
tion ana endeavor to get out OF II the
'est -hat il can be made TO yield from
he standpoint of the interests OF the
ls''on as a whole.
This was the situation at the open