Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-04-12

in the endless work of peace, the never
ending work of building and keeping the
marvellous fabric of our Industrial pros
perity The upbuildng of any part of our
country is benefit to the whole, and every
such effort us this to stimulate the resources
and industry of Il particular section is en-
titled to the heartieSt support from every
quarter of the Union. Thoroughly good ma
tiOnal work can be done only il each Of us
works hard for himself and at the same time
keeps constantly in mind that he must work
in conjunction with others.
You have made particular effort in your
exhibition to get into TOUGH with the West
Indies. This is wise The events of the
last four years have shown us that the
West Indies and the iSthmus in the future
occupy Il far larger place in our national
policy than in the past. This is proved by
he negotiations for the purchase of the
Danish islands, the acquisition of Porto
Rico, the preparation for building an 18TH
tions which these years have produced be
tween and Cuba. AS Il nation we nave
an especial right to take honest pride in
what we have done for Cuba. Our critics
abroad and at home have insisted that we
never intended to leave the island. But on
the goth of next month Cuba becomes Il free
republic and we turn over to the islanders
the control of their own Government. 1t
would he very difficult to find parallel in
the conduct of any other great state that
has occupied such Il position as ours We
have kept our word and done our duty just
rs Al honest individual in private life keeps
Ills word and does his duty.
Be it remembered. moreover, that after
our three years occupation of the island
we turn it over to the CubanS in Il better
condition than it ever has been i'll all the
centuries of Spanish rule This has Il direct
bearing upon our own welfare.
We have rightfully insisted upon Cuba
adopting toward us an attitude differing pOlit-
icalIy from that she adopts toward any other
power: and in return, as Il matter of right,
we must give to Cuba Il diffCrent-that is,
Il bettcr-positiOn economically in her rela-
tiQns with us than we give to other powers.
This is the course dictated by sound policy,
by Il wise and farsighted view of our own
interests, and by the position we have taken
during the past four years. We are
wealthy and powerful country, dealing with
much weaker one; and the contrast in
wealth and strength makes it all the more
our duty TO deal with Cuba we have al
Grady dealt with her, in Il spirit of large
generosity.
Period of Prosperity.
This exposition is rendered possible be-
cause of the period of industrial prosperity
through which we are passing. The we'll
being which we are now enjoying can be
secured only through general business pros
perity and such prosperity is conditioned
upon the energy and hard work. the sanity
and the mutual respect of all classes of cap,
itaIists, large and small, of wage workers Of
every degree. AS is inevitable in Il 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
cccd least.
1t is Il good thing when these appeals are
made to remember that while it is difficult
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 overthroWing both the more pros
porous and themselves in the crash of Il com
mon disaster.
We are certain to fail if we adopt the
policy of the demagogue who raves against
the wealth which is simply the form of en-
-i,rI,t
who would shut the door of opportunity
against those whose energy we should
pecially foster, by penalzng the qualities
which tell for success. Just as little can
afford to follow those who fear to recog-,
nZe injustice and to endeavOr to cut it out
because the task is difficult or even-if per
formed by unSklled hands, dangerous.
This is an era OF great combinations, both
of labor and capital. In many ways these
combinations have worked for good but
they must work under the law, and the
laws concerning them must be just and wise
or they will inevitably do evil; and this
applies as much to the richest corporation
as to the most powerful labor union. Our
laws must be WISE sane. healthy, conceived
in the spirit of those who scorn the mere
agtator, the mere meter of class or sec
tiOnal hatred: who wish justice for all men,
who recognize the need Of adhering so far as
possible to the old American doctrine of
giving the widest possible scope for the free
exercise Of individual initiative, and yet
who recognize also that after combinations
have reached a certain stage it is indiSpen-
sable to the general welfare that the nation
should exercise over them, cautiously and
with seIf-restrant but trmst the power of
supervision ana regulation.
Above all. the administration of the Gov
crnmcnt the enforcement of the laws, must
be fair and honest. The laws are not to be
administered either in the interest of the
poor man the interest Of the rich man.
They are simply to be administered justly
in the interest of justice to each man, be
he rich or be he poor, giving immunity to
ini tnI. -1nF favor hn inia n
may assume Such is the obligation which
every public servant takes and to it he must
be true under penalty of FORGETTING the re-
spcct both Of himself and of his fellows.