The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-09-06

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than we are. II is the very nature Of
property to be unequal. Without such
inequality civilization could not exist.
Our care must be TO prevent individu-
ais from having special advantages
through the laws for the accumulation
OF wealth. such advantages these times
are sought and gained through specious
arguments for promotion of the general
good. He is vet young and green In
this old world who does not know that
desire Of private gain, not the public
good is the incentive. The desire of
private gain is indeed the handspring Of
commercial and industrial action, and
its existence is absolutely necessary to
human effort. But il should always be
watched when it wants grants, bonuses,
subsidies and franchises, and when such
concessions are made, the public rights
should always be guarded with extreme
care. 1t is a favorable sign Of these
times that there is better disposition
now to guard the rights Of the public in
these directions than in former times,
when promoters we're accustomed TO get
everything merely for the asking. To
the growth Of democracy and Of an in
telligent spirit within it, to the neces-
sity Of making appeal to the people and
taking their judgment, this change is
due. Much remains to be done, and IL
will be done; for an industrial democ-
racy is forced to mix business with poll
itics and politics with business, in order
to conserve its rights and interests, and
to suppose the system would prove
failure would be to despair of mankind.
There is law in the physical world, a
law OF animal life, that requires con-
slant effort for maintenance Of the high.
est powers. In the animal world the
species that become parasites are known
to degenerate, by law oi universal be.
ing. And there is law of the moral
and spiritual world, under which the
dead-heads Of society degenerate as do
parasites in the lower animal kingdom.
Rich persons who may depend on their
wealth, or poor persons who may de-
pend on the state, commit the same
error. Every idler, rich or poor, violates
great law Of his being, which demands
that every thought and feeling shall
emerge into action. Every class Of peo-
pie has it's iders. men who desire to
possess without earning. The aimless
son Of wealth and the tramp tread the
game path. Universal interest in hon
est, healthiul employment would cure
nearly ali the evils Of society and state.
II could not be made easy, consistently |
with the requirements OF the nature OF
maH. Let no man be discouraged,
therefore; let no man repine.
have answered the call to address
you today ia the hope that might be
able to speak an acceptable word. The
subject is a vast one, IL covers all the
concerns OF human life. We live in the
world and we must work in IL. My own
work in Oregon began with my boyhood
it has extended during a period of near.
ly so years. In my early life, aud down
to the time when was nearly 80 years
OF age il, covered Svery description of
manual labor that belonged TO the con-
ditions Of pioneer existence and all the
usuai and many unusual hardshlps went
with il. Latterly 1 have pursued an
other occupation, not less laborious. and
far more exacting. | speak OF these
things that il may be known when talk
Of labor know what it means. Through
long experience and observation know
that the good old virtues are still our
main reliance, and that in making
necessary changes TO the new conditions
Of an individual civilization we never
can afford 10 neglect them.