Whenever asked about the essence of the Republican Party, at least in its historic sense, I am inclined to provide an answer along the lines of the underlying principles and policies of President Theodore Roosevelt, who in my opinion represents the greatness of the American nationalism for which the Republican Party once stood.

In spite of the new, popular talk about a "global citizenship" and a "league of democracies," and of course a commitment to end "climate change" (the new euphemism for the theory of man made "global warming," since temperatures have been in decline in recent years), ours remains a most privileged generation. We have the internet to remind us of what constitutes the real Republican Party (and of course a real Republican candidate). We also know that, if provided the right leadership, the values promoted by Roosevelt a century ago may be most relevant today. American sovereignty, unhyphenated Americanism, a "square deal" which is able to balance capital and labor interests - these need not be antequated concepts at all.

Here are several speeches by President Theodore Roosevelt, which well reflect his ideas. In my mind, a twenty-first century articulation of the same would do our own party well:

The Strenuous Life Speech:

http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/trstrenlife.html

New Nationalism Speech:

http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=501  

Hyphenated Americanism Speech:

http://home.comcast.net/~nhprman/trhyphenated.htm

Theodore Roosevelt on the Supremacy of the American Flag:

"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Theodore Roosevelt on Conservation as Necessary for the National Interest:

"And now, first and foremost, you can never afford to forget for a moment what is the object of our forest policy. That object is not to preserve forests because they beautiful, though that is good in itself; nor because they are refuges for the wild creatures of the wilderness, though that, too, is good in itself; but the primary object of our forest policy, as of the land policy of the United States, is the making of prosperous homes. It is part of the traditional policy of home making in our country. Every other consideration comes as secondary. You yourselves have got to keep this practical object before your minds: to remember that a forest which contributes nothing to the wealth, progress, or safety of the country is of no interest to the Government, and should be of little interest to the forester. Your attention must be directed to the preservation of forests, not as an end in itself, but as the means of preserving and increasing the prosperity of the nation."

Theodore Roosevelt on the Necessity of the American Republic:

"The Roman Republic fell, not because of the ambition of Caesar or Augustus, but because it had already long ceased to be in any real sense a republic at all."

Theodore Roosevelt on Patriotism:

Some reformers may urge that in the ages distant future, patriotism, like the habit of monogamous marriage, will become a needless and obsolete virtue; but just at present the man who loves other countries as much as he does his own is quite as noxious a member of society as the man who loves other women as much as he loves his wife. Love of country is an elemental virtue, like love of home.

Theodore Roosevelt on the Threat of Power in Private Factions or Special Interests:

The death-knell of the republic had rung as soon as the active power became lodged in the hands of those who sought, not to do justice to all citizens, rich and poor alike, but to stand for one special class and for its interests as opposed to the interests of others.

Theodore Roosevelt on Struggle:

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt on Virtue:

I have always been fond of the West African proverb: Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.