The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-11

people as long as it has the money to do
So and relieving the necessities OF another
section only whenever they are not able 10
take care of themselves. Most financial ills
in the banking world, as well as in the bust
ness world, grow out of greed. We all be-
come intoxicated in periods of good times
with a desire for too rapid increase of our
individual wealth. This. of course. is sub
ject which no legislation can reach. All
that any man can do is to preach prudence
and to practice it. And so, again. In the
conduct OF the business of every bank In
the country that word should be dominant
which also should be dominant with US who
are sent by the people to enact the Natlon
laws and that word is the word with which
/ opened this address-the all wise word
moderation
GREATER PROSPERITY COMING.
There never was a period when the tide
of prosperity has risen so high as now,
and its highest point is not yet reached.
But upon the shoulders of the bankers of the
country more than upon any one set or
business men depends the continuance of
this fortunate condition. Our crops were
never so abundant, it is true; our mines
never yielded so generously, ii is true; our
transportation facilities were never so per-
feet, it is true; the volume of actual money
was never so great, it is true In short, all
of the theoretical elements of prosperity
are here, and are increasing. But If conf
dence in the business world is impaired the
influence which YIELDS all these elements
into effective and practical prosperity will
fail. And yet, If the bankers without rea-
son indulge in vague apprehensions they
will themselves bring about the very thing
which they unreasonably fear. III the
bankers begin to exercise cowardice instead
of prudence; if without any reason except
timidity they begin TO contract their loans
and reduce their credits. that confidence
upon which all business rests, and OF which
he ha Themselves DeQen-
ciaries, will be Impaired
but this will not occur. The bankers of
the Republic are too intelligent, too brave,
too patriotic. And patriotism is not the
smallest element in the business of the
banker, the work of the farmer, the trading
of the merchant, the toll of the laborer, the
creations of the manufactures. Patriotism
ought to be and is the chief element in the
effort of every one of us. All OF us would
die for the Nation; let all of us. then, be
willing to live for the Nation. The banker
who does not hold the greatness and well
fare of the American people above his per-
sonal gain has made a failure of life, no
matter how prosperous he has made his ip-
stitution. The workingman who does not
put love of country in every blow of ais
strong arm has failed in his life's oppor-
tunity. no matter how high the wages he
wins The farmer who does not look to
the glory of the Nation, whose flag floats
above and protects his broad acres, has
failed in his duty, no matter how full he
heaps his granaries. Each for all, all for
each. United we stand, divided we fall
watchwords of the Republic are still the
watchwords of the American people, and
must always be.
.sOur prosperity is a common prosperity,
and il will continue as long as we keep that
supreme fact in mind. Our destiny is a
common destiny, and its fulfillment Will fail
only when we forget that noble truth And
we will not forget it. Our prosperity will
continue and increase. Our power as a
people will persist and wax. Our glory as
a nation will rise higher and higher. For
the minds of the American people are sane
minds: the hearts of the American people
are true hearts And sane minds and true
hearts work no folly and do no wrong.
And nothing but folly and wrong can stop
even for a moment the prosperous progress
| of the American people"