The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-12-06
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents Message.
Mr.. Roosevelt's message to congress
is coucbed 10 his usual vigorous sound
ing p~hraseology, but except for the
e~xhileration OF a carrying style it Is a
Disappointing document. At least IL
is disappointing to anyone who has
believed that there was any sincerity
in his talk during the early part OF
the recent political campaign.
With the STACEY daring Of a paladln
in grand opera, after an orstOrical
flourish, he brandishes his cleaning
scimiter and makes straight for the
trusts. And does be smite the trusts?
Not much. He takes his stand by
their side and prOclalms himself their
apologlst and defender. Read that
section OF his message through and
for every line Of criticism you will
find three lines OF eulogy and Of de-
~precation OF anything but the most
guarded action. For every mention
OF the evils that "may be- in ''some
trusts there will be found three such
expressions as "the right to act in
combination 'iDevitable develop
ment OF modern industrialism, y "not
attacking them but the evil in them. :
Anot to stop the great enterprises
which have reduced cost Of produc-
tion," mot to strike down wealth
and turn the wage worker idle in the
streets" 'insistence upon the i'm
possible, " etc.
The talk about trusts reducing the
cost OF production has been shown to
be nonsense again and again, unless
the expense Of competition is figured
in with the cost Of production.
And pray what are trusts for but
to obyiate domestic competition just
as protective tariff is designed to
obviate foreign competition? What
but to make the domestic consumer
pay the expense Of establishing foreign
markets?
Mr.. Roosevelt makes no suggestion
of what he would like to see congress
do in the matter. He discusses the
subject apparently to show his
sympathy with the trusts and to show
his dread that congress, a republican
congress, may do too much. But
there is one particular in which the
president did speak out clearly and
boldly. He was very explicit about
n thing he did not wish to see done
to the trusts. He made it very plain
that be was .nnalterablY opposed to
any reduction Of the tariff. That
section is the corner stone Of the
whole structure. 10 that section he
made his peace With the interests
which control the republican organiza-
ton, which own it body and soul,
without the goodwill of which a nomi-
nation in 1904 is impossible, in whose
interest senators are elected, state
constitutions revised, newspapers
subsidized, auxiliary printing con-
Germs endowed, news bureaux exquip-
ped and inspired, and to promote whose
designs the halls Of legislation swarm
with agents and lobbyists.
Mr. Roosevelt is not Of a type of
mind to know and feel that be has
basely surrendered. He will always
think that be has only compromised
on lines Of the attainable. He is
concerted enough tc believe that his
election in 1904 would be a blessing
TO the country beyond any benefits to
come from his attacks upon licenced
robbery. He has in no sense the
%philosophic mind. He sees nothing In
the absolute. "The truth is this to-
me and that to thee" with him as
with the mad mystic, Merlin. He is
so intoxicated with his own per-
%sonality that like a young boy he can
not conceive a difference between a
thing in esseuc and his impression Of
It. But he has made his peace with
the trusts. Henceforth there can be
no question Of his nomination. He
has made his calling and election sure.
The Trusts.