Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-14
AND HA TIRED
u, HAVE PASSED AWAY"

scourge of yellow fever alike to Cuba and
to ourselves. is sufficient to emphasize
the community of interest between us. But
there are other interests which bind as
together. Cuba's position makes it nee
essary that her political relations with
us should differ from her political rela-
lions with other powers. This fact has
been formulated by US and accepted by
zee Satoaas al the Plat amendments. It
soIloWs as corollary that where the Gu
hans nave thus assumed position of re-
latfonship to our political system they
must similarly stand in a peculiar rela-
tionship to our economic system.
I'VE have rightfully insisted upon Cuba
adopting toward US an attitude differing
politically from that she adopts toward
any other power; and in return. as mat
ter of right we must give to Cuba dlf-
ferent-that is a better-position econom-
ically in her relations with US than we
give to other powers. This is the course
dictated by sound policy, by wise and
far-sighted view of our own interest and
by the position we have taken during the
past four years We are a wealthy and
powerful country, dealing with much
weaker one; and the contrast in wealth
and strength makes 1t all the more our
duty to deal with Cuba as we have al
ready dealt with her, in a spirit Of large
generosity.
This exposition is rendered possible
because OF the period of industrial pros
perity through which we are passing.
While material well-being is never ail-suf-
ficient to the life of nation, yet it is the
merest truism to say that its absence
means ruin We need to build higher
life upon it as a foundation; but we can
build little indeed unless this foundation
of prosperity is deep and broad. The we'll
being which we are now enjoying can be
only general business
prosperity and such prosperity is con-
ditiOned upon the energy and hard work.
the sanity and the mutual respect OF all
classes Of capitalists, large and small, OF
wage-workers Of every degree. As is in
evitable in time of business prosperity.
some men succeed more than others and
it is unfortunately also inevitable that
when this is the case some unwise people
are sure to try to appeal to the envy and
jealousy Of those who succeed least. 1t
is a good thing when these appeals are
made to remember that while It is difR-
cult to increase prosperity by law, It is
easy enough to ruin it and that there Is
small satisfaction TO the less prosperous
If they succeed in over-throwing both the
more prosperous and themselves In the
crash of a common disaster.
Every industrial exposition of this type
necessarily calls up the thought of the
complex social and economic questions
which are involved in our present indus
trial system. Our astounding material
prosperity, the sweep. and rush rather
than the mere march of our progressive
material development have brought grave
troubles in their train. We cannot afford
TO blink at these troubles any more than
because of them we can afford to accept
as true the gloomy forebodings OF the
prophets of evil. There are great prob
lens before us. They are not insoluble.
but they can be solved only If we ap-
proach them in a spirit of resolute fear
lessness, of common sense and Of honest
intention to do fair and equal justice to
allf men alike. We are certain to fail If
we adopt the policy of the demogogue
who raves against the wealth which is
simply the form of embodied thrift, fore
sight and intelligence; who would shut
the door of opportunity against those
whose energy we should especially
! foster, by penalizing the qualities which
tell for success. Just as little can we af-
ford to follow those who fear to recognize
injustice and to endeavor to cut IL out be-
cause the task is difficult or even-if per-
formed by unskilled hands-dangerous. -
''This is an area of great combinations
both of labor and of capital In many
ways these combinat tons have worked for
good; but they must work under the law
and the laws concerning them must be
evil; and this applies as much to the rich
est corporation as 70 the most powerful
labor union. Our laws must be wise, sane.
healthy, conceived in the spirit of those
who scorn the mere agitator; the mere in
otter Of class or sectional hatred; who
wish justice for all men; who recognizes
the need of adhering so far as possible TO
the old American doctrine Of giving the
widest possible scope for the free exer-
else of individual initiative and yet who
recognize also that after combinations
have reached a certain stage ii is indispen-
sable to the general welfare that the nation
should exercise over them, cautiously and
with self-restraint, but firmly the power
of supervision and regulation.
above all the administration Of the
government, the enforcement of the laws
must be fair and honest. The laws are
not to be administered either in the in
terest of the poor MANOR the interest OF
the rich man. They are simply to be adj
ministered justly; in the interest Of JUS
tice to each man, be he rich or be he poor
giving immunity to no Violator whatever
form the violation may assume Such Is
the obligation which every public servant
takes, and TO it he must be true under
penalty of FORGETTING the respect both Of
himself and of his fellows"