The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-02
the Senate and House of Representa-

To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
We st:ll continue in a period of un-
bounded prosperity. This prosperity is
not the creature of law. but undoubted-
ly the laws under which we work have
been instrumental in creating the condi-
tions which made it possible, and by
unwise legislation it would be easy
enough to destroy it There will un-
dOubtedly be periods of depression. The
wave will recede; but the tide will ad-
vance. This nation is seated on a con-
tinent fianked by two great oceans. 1t
is composed of men the descendants of
pioneers, or, in a sense. pioneers them
selves; of men winnowed out from
among the nations of the Old World by
the energy, boldness. and love of ad-
venture found in their own eager hearts.
Such a nation, so placed, will surely
Wrest success from fortune
AS 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 great
ly: but we cannot avoid the endeavor
from which either great failure or great
success must come. Even if we would,
we cannot play a small part. If 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 present and face the future high of
heart and resolute of will. Ours is not
the creed of the weakling and the cow
ard 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 the twentieth century,
grave problems abroad and still graver
at home; but we know that we can
solve them and solve them well, pro-
vided only that we bring to the solution
the qualities of head and heart which
were shown by the men who, in the
days of Washington. founded this gov
eminent, and, in the days of Lincoln
preserved it.
ON A HIGH PLANE
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
tury; to our laws, our sustained and
continuous policies; above all. to the
high Individual average of our citizen
ship. Great fortunes have been won by
those who have taken the lead in this
phenomenal industrial development, ane
most of these fortunes have been wor
not by doing evil, but as an incident t.
action which has benefited the commu-
nifty as a whole. Never before has ma
teriai well being been so widely diffuset
among our people Great fortune:
have been accumulated. and yet In thu
arrregate these fortunes are small in
deed when compared to the wealth o.
the people as whole. The plain people
are better off than they have ever beer
before The insurance companies, which
are practically mutual benefit societies
especially helpful to men of modera t.
,,7eans-represen eccumulations of cap
ifal which are among the largest in thi:
country. There are more deposits in tn,
savings banks, more owners of farms