The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-31
LINCOLN EXIOllED
BY THE PRESlDEN 7
CONTINUES from First Paae)


the men who direct the great business in
terests of the country should work not
II. antagonism but In ha mony toward
this given end. In entering a field where
the progress must of necessity be so
largely experimental it is essential that
TIE effort to make progress should be
tentative and cautious. We must grow by
evolution, not by revolution. There must
be no hurry, but there must also be no
halt; and those who are anxious that
there should be no sudden and violent
changes must remember that precisely
these sudden and violent changes will
be rendered likely IL we refuse to make
thu needed changes in cautious and mod
crate manner.
at the present moment the GREATEST
need is for an increase in the power Of
the national government to keep the great
highways of commerce open alike to all
on reasonable and equitable terms Less
than century ago these highways were
still, as they had been since the dawn
of history either waterways. natural or
artificial. or else ordinary roads for wheel
vehicles drawn by animal power The rail-
road, which was utterly unknown when
orr government was formed and when
the great principles of our Jurisprudence
were laid down, has now become almost
everywhere the most important, and. in
many large regions, the only form of
hi, hway for commerce. The man who
controls its use can not be permitted to
control it in his own interest alone.
Should Receive Ample Payment.
ut is not only just but it is in the in
terest Of the public that this man should
receive the amplest payment for the mas
terful business capacity which enables
him to benefit himself while benefting
the public; but In return he must him
self recognize his duty to the public. He
will not and cannot do this If our laws
are so defective that in the sharp compe-
tition of the business world the conscien-
tious man is put at a disadvantage by his
less scrupulous fellows. 1t Is in the in
terest of the conscientious and public
spirited railway man that there should
be such governmental supervision of the
railway traffic, of the country as to re-
quire from his less scrupulous COMPETE
tors and from INSCRIPTIONS big shippers
well, that heed TO the public welfare
which he himself would willingly give,
and which is of vital consequence to the
small shipper. Every important railroad
is engaged in interstate commerce. There
fore, this control over the railroads must
come through the national government.
THE control must be exercised by some
governmental tribunal, and 1t must be
real and effective. Doubtless there will be
risk that occasionally if an unfit Presi-
dent is elected, this control will he
abused; but this is only another way of
saying that any adequate governmental
power, from the power Of taxation down,
can and will be abused If the wrong men
get control of 1t.
Must Rest With Lawmakers.
1.-THE details must rest with the law
makers of the two houses of Congress;
but about the principle there can be no
doubt. Hasty or vindictfve action would
merely work damage; but in temperate,
resolute fashion, there must be lodged in
some tribunal the power over rates, ana
especially over rebates-whether secured
by means of private cars, or private
tracks, In the form of damages, or COM
missions, or in any other manner-which
will protect alike the railroad and the
shipper, and put the big shipper and the
little shipper an equal tootins' DOUBT
less no law would accomplish all that
enthusiasts hope; there is always disap-
pointment over the results OF such a law
among the oversanguine; but very real
and married. good has come from the Leg