President Roosevelt made on July 27th a speech to the
gentlemen who brought him the formal "notification" of his nomination as Republican candidate which is intended to explain his whole policy. It is still Protectionist, but be accepts Mr. McKinley's idea of Reciprocity so far as "reciprocal agreements can be made without injury to American industry and labour." He accepts the gold. standard, as the only one " in accordance with the funda- mental principles of national morality and wisdom." As regards foreign policy, he insists that events in Cuba, Panama, and Venezuela have shown the Monroe doctrine to be "a living reality," and declares that the steady rise of America in power " has gone hand-in-hand with a strengthening dis- position to use this power in the cause of international justice and goodwill." He notes the rapid growth of American interests in the Pacific, and believes that the foothold gained. in the Philippines has greatly " strengthened the American position in the trade competition in the Far East." To abandon those islands would mean for the natives the loss of their barely won civil freedom. This last remark is intended as an answer to that strong section of Americans which objects to hold any territory outside the two Americas, or to refuse to any population the right of voting.
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