Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-12-07

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 IL no atonement;
d sin which is the more dreadful
exactly in proportion ss the men and
women thereof are In other respects,
in character, and bodily and mental
powers, those who'll fer 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 pri-
mary duties of life, whether for love
of ease and pleasure, or for any other
cause, and retain his or her self
respect.
international 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 intefns tional arbi-
tiation as a means of settling all di1
ficulties that may arise. ia
American Shipping.
Let me once again call the atten-
ton of the Congress to two subjects
concerning which / have frequently
before communicated with them. One
is the question of developing Ameri.
can shipping. l 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
eminent 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
III that great sister continent be at
disadvantage compared to the bust
ness people of Europe.
Currency Reform.
| especially call your attention to
the second subject, the condition Of
Gr currency laws. The national
INK act has ably served a great pur-
ne in aiding the enormous business
-. 'elopment of the country; AMI
within ten years there has been an
increase in circulation per capita
from $21.41 to $33.08. For several
years evidence has been accommodating
that additional legislation is needed.
The recurrence of each crop season
emphasizes the defects of the present
laws. There must soon be a revision
of them, because to leave them as they
are means to incur liability of bust
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 huc-
tuation was even greater during the
preceding six months. The Secretary
of the Treasury had to step in and by
wise action put a stop to the most
violent period of oscillation. Even
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.
mercial interests suffer during each
crop period. Excessive rates for call
money in New York attract money
from the interior banks into the spe.
culative fields; this depletes the fund
that would otherwise be available for
commercial uses, and commercial Dor.
rowers are forced to pay abnormal
rates; so that each fall tax, In the
shape of increased interest charges,
is placed on the whole commerce Of
the country.
Our Island Possessions.
It is urged that these shall receive
the careful consideration Of Congress
and that tariffs, etc., shall be upon O
just basis.
Army and Navy.
The message goes at length into the
matter Of the efficiency Of our army
and navy. The President Is mucl
gratifed at the progress we are max
ing in both branches of our common
defense. In the matter Of rifle proc
tice the President says:
The Congress has most wisely pro.
vided for a National Board for the
promotion of rife prictise. Excellent
results have already come from this
law, but it does not go far enough.
Our Regular Army is so small that in
any great war we should have to
trust mainly to volunteers; and in
such event these volunteers should
already know how to shoot; for if q
soldier has the fighting edge, and
ability to take care of himself in the
open, his efficiency on the line Of
battle is almost directly proportion
ate to excellence in workmanship.
We should establish shooting gallars
les in the large public and military
schools, should maintain national tar.
get ranges in different parts of the
country, and should in every way en-
courage the formation of rife clubs
throughout all parts of the land. The
little Republic of Switzerland offers
IL. an excellent example in all matters
connected with building up an eff
eient citizen soldiery.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, Dec, 8. 1905.