The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1903-12-11

individual freedom, and OF justice and
fair dealing towards all. Whenever
either corporation, labor union or in
6iyidual disregards the law or acts in a
spirit of arbitrary and tyrannous inter
ference with the rights of others,
whether corporations or individuals,
then where the Federal Government
has Jurisdiction, it will see to it that
the misconduct is stopped, paying not
the slightest heed to the position or
power of the corporation, the union or
the Individual, but only to one vital
fact-that is, the question whether or
not the conduct Of the individual or
aggregate of individuals is in accord
ance with the law of the land. Every
man must be guaranteed his liberty
and his right to do as he likes with his
property or his labor, so long as ne
does not infringe the rights Of others.
No uan is above the law and no man
Is below it; nor do we ask any man
permission when we require him to
obey it. Obedience to the law is de-
manded as right; not asked as a fav-
or.
We have cause as nation 20 be
thankful for the steps that have been
so successfully taken to put these pril-
ciples into effect. The progress has
been by evolution, not by revolution.
Nothing radical has been done; the &C
= N has been both moderate and reso-
.dte. Therefore the work Will stand
There shall be no backward step.
Needs of Financial Situation.
The integrity of our currency is be-
yond question, and under present con-
ditions 1t would be unwise and unne-
cessary to attempt reconstruction Of
our entire monetary system. The same
liberty should be granted the Secretary
of the Treasury to deposit customs re-
ceipts as is granted him in the deposit
of receipts from other sources. In my
Message of December 2, 1902, called
attention to certain needs of the finan-
cial situation, and I again ask the con-
sideration of the Congress for these
questions.
immigration.
We can not haye too much immigra-
ton of the right kind, and we should
have none at all of the wrong kind.
The need is to devise some system by
which undesirable immigration shall
be kept out entirely, while desirable
immigrants are properly distributed
throughout the country.
Naturalization Frauds.
The special investigation of the SUBJ
iect of naturalization under the direc-
ton of the Attorney General, and the
consequent prosecutions, reveal CON-
idition of affairs calling for the imme-
date attention of the Congress. For
geries and perjuries Of shameless and
fragrant character have been per-
petrated, not only in the dense centers
of population, but throughout the
country: and it is established beyond
doubt that very many so-called citizens
of the United States have no title
whatever to that right, and are assert
ing and enjoying the benefits OF the
same through the grossest frauds. IL
is never to be forgotten that CITIZEN
ship is, to quote the words recently us
ed by the Supreme Court of the United
States. an 'inestimable heritage,
whether it proceeds from birth within
the country or is obtained by naturall-
zation; and we poison the sources OF
our national character and strength at
the fountain, if the privilege is claimed
and exercised without right, and by
means of fraud and corruption.
Need For Treaties Making Bribery Ex-
traditable.
Steps have been taken by the State
Department looking to the making OF
bribery an extraditable offense with
foreign powers. The need of more Ell
fective treaties covering this crime IS
manifest. The exposures and prosecu-
tions of official corruption in st.
Louis, Mo-. and other cities and States
have resulted in number OF glvers
and takers of brides becoming fugl-
tives in foreign lands. Bribery has not
been included in extradition treaties
heretofore, as the necessity for it has
not arisen. While there may have Deen
as much official corruption in former
wears. there has been more developed
and brought to light in the immediate