The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-04

I POSITION WIS dIlUTuSu ny lie dLtituoS VA
the law toward the anarchist who shot
Nit Mckinley; the people would nave
torn him limb from limb if it had not
been that the law which he defied was
at once invoked in the behalf. Mr.
Roosevei.. recommends that Federal
courts be given jurisdiction over any
man who kills or attempts to kill the
President, or any man who by the Con-
stitution or by the law is in line of sue
cession for the presidency, while the pun
ishment for an unsuccessful attempt
should be proportioned to the cnormity
of the offense against our institutions.
We think that the whole people will
agree with him that an attempt to as
sassinate the President should be punish
ed as though the President had actually
been murdered.
Coming to speak of the prosperity of
the country, Mr.. Roosevelt very properly
exalts the individual citizen, emphasizing
the fact that prosperity cannot be Great
ed by law alone: that the welfare Of each
nation must rest upon individual thrift
and energy, resolution and intelligence.
Nothing, he insists, can take the place
Of this individual capacity; but wise leg
islation and honest and intelligent admin
istration can give it the fullest scope. the
largest opportunity to work TO good eff
feet. That is a most comprehensive sum
mary of the functions of government.
Referring to the spirit of concentration
and organization OF this age, Mr. Roose-
Welt says that the creation of these great
corporate fortunes has not been due 10
action, hut to natural causes in the bus
mess world, operating in other countries
as they operate in our own.
We believe that the tariff has unfairly
been used for the benefit of certain class
es. but the general proposition which the
President lays down is true. Organize
ton is indeed natural consequence in
an age OF steam and electricity-a, fact
which this paper has asserted time with
out number. Without these corporations,
Mr.. Roosevelt goes on, the material de-
velopmcnt of which we are so justly
proud could never have taken place, and
he well says that we should recognize
the immense Importance TO this material
development OF leaving as unhampered
IS is compatible with the public good the
strong and forceful men upon whom the
success OF business operations inevitably
rests. lie says, moreover. that an addi-
tional reason for caution in dealing with
corporations is to be found in the inter-
national commerce conditions OF to-day.
Tho Times has also called attention to
this patent fact It would simply be
impossible for us to compete in the for
cign markets if our industries were car
ried on N a small way by Individuals,
rather than by strong corporations which
have the means of advertising and ex-
plotting their goods abroad.
Mr.. Roosevelt very properly rebukes the
Populistic element who have made 1t
their vocation TO denounce the great IN
dustrial combinations which arc popu-
ially. although with technical inaccu-
racy, known as trusts and he adds that
much of the legislation directed at trusts
would have been exceedingly rischievous
had it not also beer entirely ineffective.
In dealing with business interests. says
lie, in this connection, for the Govern
,!lent to undertake by crude ard incon-
Eidcrate legislation to do what might turn
cut to be bad would be to incur the risk
cf such far-reaching national disaster
that ii would be preferable to undertake
nothing at all"
But for all this he thinks that there
should be Governine Mt supervision over
corporations which are engaged in in
terstate commerce, and that they should
be regulated if they arc found to exercise
a license working to the public injury.
He thinks that the Government should
have the right TO inspect and examine
the workings Of the great corporations
engaged in interstate business and says
that publicity is the only sure remedy
which VIC can now invoke What
further remedies are needed in the way
of governmental regulation or tnsation..'
he proceeds. .can only be determined af-
ter publicity is obtained. by process of
law, and in the course OF administration.
The first requisite is knowledge, full and
cemplete-knowIedge which may be made
public TO the world.
Noting the fact that there Is utter lack