The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-12-06


from the standpoint Of the nation,
from the standpoint Of the human
race, the one sin for which the penal.
ty is national death, race death; a
sin for which there is no atonement; !;
sin which is the more dreadful
exactly in proportion as the men and
women thereof are in other respects,
in character, and bodily and mental
powers, those whom for the sake Of
the state it would be well to see the
fathers and mothers of many healthy
children, well brought up in homes
made happy by their presence. No
man, no woman, can shirk the prl-
mary duties Of life, whether for love
of ease and pleasure, or for any other
cause, and retain his or her self
respect.
Information al Morality.
On the question Of International
morality Mr. Roosevelt comes out
strongly, advocating clean dealing be
tween the nations of earth and also
strongly advocates international arbi-
tlation as a means of settling all dis
ficulties that may arise.
American Shipping.
Let me once again call the atten-
lion of the Congress to two subjects
concerning which I have frequently
before communicated with them. One
is the question of developing Ameri.
can shipping. / trust that law en-
bodying in substance the views, or a
major part of the views, ,exprest in tho
report on this subject laid before the
House at its last session will be past.
[ am well aware that in former years
Objectionable measures have been pro-
posed in reference to the encourage
ment of American shipping; but it
seems to me that the proposed meas
ure is as nearly unobjectionable as
any can be. 1t will Of course bene-
fit primarily our 'seaboard States,
Maine, Louisiana, and Washington ;
but what benefits part of our people
in the end benefits all; just as Gov
ernment aid to irrigation and forestry
in the West is really of benefit, not
only to the Rocky Mountain States,
but to all our, country. IF is prove
impracticable to enact law for the
encouragement of shipping generally,
then at least provision should be made
for better communication with South
America, notably for fast mail lines
to the chief South American porvs.
1t is discreditable to us that our bust
ness people, for lack of direct COM
munication in the shape of lines of
steamers with South America, should
in that great sister continent be at a
disadvantage compared to the bust
ness people of Europe.
Currency Reform.
I especially call your attention to
the second subject, the condition Of
hr currency laws. The national
snk act/has ably served a great pur-
te in aiding the enormous business
talopment of the country; AMI
-lthin ten years there has been an
increase in circulation per capita
from $21.41 to $33.09. For several
years evidence has been accumulating
that additional legislation is needed
The recurrence of each crop season
emphasizes the defects Of the present
laws. There must soon be revision
of them, because to leave them as they
are means to incur liability of busi-
ness disaster. Since your body adj
journed there has been a fuctuation
in the interest on call money from 2
per cent to 80 per cent; and the fuc.
tuation was even greater during the
preceding six months. The Secretary
of the Treasury had to step in and by
wise action put stop to the most
violent period of oscillation. Ever
worse than such fuctuation is the ad.
vance in commercial rates and the un.
certainty felt in the suficiency Of
credit even at high rates. All com.
nd lercial interests suffer during each
crop period Excessive rates for call
oney in New York attract money
Fl tom the interior banks into the sps'
calative fields; this depletes the fund
that would otherwise be available fol
commercial uses, and commercial bor
rbwers are forced to pay abnormal
, rates; so that each fall tax, in thu
shape of increased interest charges
lis placed ON the whole commerce oi
the country.
Our Island Possessions.
It is urged that these shall receivi
the careful consideration Of Congress!
and that tariffs, ETC., shall be upon q
! just basis.
Army and Navy.
The message goes at length into tht
matter Of the efficiency Of our army
and navy. The President is muci
/ gratifed at the progress we are max
, ing in both branches Of our common
defense. In the matter Of rife proc
/: tice the President says:
, The Congress has most wisely pro
vided for National Board for tn,
promotion of rifle prictise. Excellen
, results have already come from thii
) law, but it does not go far enough
Our Regular Army is so small that IL
/ any great war we should have t.
: trust mainly to volunteers; and il
E such event these volunteers shoult
| already know how to shoot; for if I
5 soldier has the fighting edge, an,
ability to take care of himself in tn
t open, his efficiency on the line o,
3 battle is almost directly proportion
/ ! ate to excellence in Workmanship