Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-03

velt's annual message was read to the SEN
ate and house OF representatives at tho
opening of the session today. 1t Is:
To the senate and house of representatives:
We still continue in a period of unbounded
prosperity. This prosperity is not the crea-
ture of law, but undoubtedly the laws un-
der which we work have been instrumental
in ere eating the conditions which made 1t
possible, and by unwise legislation It would
be easy enough to destroy It, There will
undoubtedly be periods of depression. The
wave will recede; but the tide will advance.
This nation is seated on a continent fianked
by two great oceans 1t Is composed OF
men the descendants of pioneers, or, in a
sense, pioneers themselves; of men win
moved out from among the nations of the
old world by the energy, boldness, and
love of adventure found in their own eager
hearts. Such a nation, so placed, Will
surely wrest success from fortune.
As a people we have played a large part
in the world, and we are bent upon making
our future even larger than the past. In
particular, the events of the last four years
have definitely decided that, for woe or
for veal, our place must be great among
the nations. We may either fail greatly
or succeed greatly; but we cannot avoid
the endeavor from which either great fail
if we would. we cannot play a small part.
II we should try, all that would follow
would be that We should play a large part
ignobly and shamefully.
But our people, the sons OF the men OF
the civil war. the sons of the men who
had iron in their blood, rejoice in the pres
ent and face the future high of heart and
resolute of will. Ours is not the creed OF
the weakllng and the coward; ours is the
gospel OF hope and Of triumphant endeavor
We do not shrink from the struggle before
us. There are many problems for us to
face at the outset OF tho twentieth century
grave problems abroad and still graver
at home; but we know that we can solve
them and solve them we'll, provided only
that we bring to the solution the qualities
of head and heart, which we're shown by
the men who, in the days Of Washington,
founded this government. and, in the days
OF Lincoln. preserved it.
whence Prosperity Springs.
No country has ever occupied a higher
plane of material well-being than ours at
the present moment. This well-being is
due to no sudden or accidental causes but
to the play OF the economic forces in this
country for over a century; to our laws.
our sustained aud continuous policies;
hDONt ALL 10 the ulBu luulNluuhl average
of our citizenship. Great fortunes have
been won by those who have taken the
lead in this phenomenal Industrial develop
ment, and most OF these fortunes have
been won not by doing evil, but as an in
cident TO action, which has benefited the
community a whole. Never before has
material well-being been so widely diff
fused among our people. Great fortunes
have been accomplished and yet in the
I aggregate these fortunes are small indeed
when compared to the wealth OF the peo-
pie as a whole. The plain people are bet
| ter of than they have ever been before.
The insurance companies, which are prac-
| tically mutual benefit societies-espectally
helpful TO men Of moderate means-repre-
sent accumulations OF capital which are
among the largest in this country. There
are more deposits in the savings banks
| more owners OF farms more well-paid
wage-workers in this country now than
| ever before In our history. OF course
when the conditions have favored the
/ growth OF 30 much that was good. they have
/ also favored somewhat the growth OF what
was evil. II Is eminently necessary that
| We should endeavor to cut out this evil
but let us keep a due sense Of proportion:
/ let us not in fixing our gaze upon the lesser
/ evil forget the greater good. The evila
] are real ana some or them are menactnR,
| but they are the outgrowth. not OF misery
or decadence, but Of prosperity-of the
] progress OF our gigantic industrial develop
ment. This industrial development must
I not be checked. but side by side with Il
should go such progressive regulation as
will diminish the evils. We should fail
in our duty II We did not try 20 remedy
I the evils, but We shall succeed only n We
proceed patiently, With practical common
sense, as we'll as resolution separating the
good from the bad and holding on 20 the
former while endeavoring TO get rid of the
/ latter.
For COntrOIIinE Corporations.
In my message 20 the present congress ai
It's hrst session ! discussed az length the
question Of the regulation OF those big cor
porations commonly doing an interstate
business, often with some tendency 10 mo-
| nopoly. which are popularity known al
/ trusts. The experience Ot the past pear
has emphasized, In my opinion, the desir-
I ability Of the steps I then proposed 4
fundamental requisite OF social efficiency Il
a higa standard OF individual energy and
excellence, but this is iu no wise consist
| ent With power 10 act In combination toI
aims which cannot 80 vel b. achieved b.