The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-09
Strsnq Message From Roosevelt.

Yesterday. Not subject of vital i'm
portance having bearing on the future
welfare of the country was passed by
without comment or some suggestion
In dealing with the subject of capital and
labor the president stated that both
have right to organize, but he was
quick to remind each that the laws
must be obeyed; that the laws are not
made to be broken wantonly by either
the man with millions at his command
or the laborer who is not possessed OF
a dollar Nothing must be done by eth
er inimical to the public.
In his discussion of the question OF
corporations the president does not as
sumo radical attitude. This posi-
tion is not pleasing to the more pro-
nounced antitrust advocates, who lab
or under the false idea that the combi-
nations can be wiped out with one fell
swoop. But the president has tax
en- the right view of this import
ant subject. Evils cannot be eradicated
in a hurry Reforms can be brought about
only through the proper channels. How
ever, the president is favorable to the
plan of giving the interstate commerce
commission additional power to deal
with railroads. This is what the people
believe should be done, and the news
papers of the country-those that are
not owned or controlled by railroad mag
nates-have voiced the sentiments of the
people in this respect. The president in
his message points out that the nation
al government alone can deal with the
corporations; that too many states per-
NIT themselves to become the breeding
ground for corporations and these ply
their trade in other commonwealth, the
laws of which are violated and the prop
er officials do not take cognizance of
these attractions. But an Incorporate
or demagogic spirit will accomplish no
good result. The American people do
not, as a class, believe in property de-
struction, and they will continue to let
the law take its course. If the laws
are not adequate, measures must be
adopted by our legislative bodies, that
will fit the gap.
1t was not expected that President
Roosevelt would have anything to say
on the tariff question, and he was not
disappointing. He does say, however,
that this subject will be treated later.
This is an intimation that the president
will call an extra session of congress and
at that time tariff revision will be adj
vocated by him, in accordance with the
declaration made in his letter of accept
ance.
President Roosevelt advocates the
building up of strong navy. On this
point he says: "The strong arm of the
government in enforcing respect for it's
just rights in international matters is
the navy of the United States. l most
earnestly recommend that there be no
halt in the work of upbuilding the Amer
lean navy. There is no more patriotic
duty before us as people than to keep
the navy adequate to the needs of this
country's position. We have undertake
en- to build the Isthmian canal. We
have undertaken to protect for ourselves
our just share in the trade of the orient.
We have undertaken to protect our citi-
zens from improper treatment in for
eign lands. We continue steadily to in
sist on the application of the Monroe
Doctrine to the western hemisphere. I'm
less our attitude in these and all similar
matters is to be a mere boastful sham,
we cannot afford to abandon our naval
programme. Our voice is now potent
for peace, and is so potent because we
are not afraid of war. But our pro-
testations upon behalf of peace would
neither receive nor deserve the slightest
attention if we were impotent to make
them good"
Speaking to the subject of disarm-
ament, the president declares that if the
great civilized nations of the present
day should completely disarm, the re-
suit would mean an immediate recru-
descence of barbarism in one form or
another. Under any circumstances a
sufficient armament would have to be
kept up to serve the purposes of inter
national police; and until international
cohesion and the sense of international
duties and rights are far more advanced
than at present, nation DESTROYS both
of securing respect for itself and of do
ing good to others must have a force
adequate for the work which it feels is
allotted to it as its part of the general
world duty. Therefore it follows that a
self-respecting, just and far-seeing ma
ton should on the one hand endeavor
by every means to aid in the develop
ment of the various substitutes for war
which tend to render nations in their
actions toward one another, and indeed
toward their own people, more respon-
sive to the general sentiment of humane
and civilized mankind; and on the other
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