The midland journal., 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 is no atonement;
a 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 we'll 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 international arbi-
tlation as a means of settling all dia
fieulties that may arise.
| AmCIACdu oulpplug.
Let me once again call the atten-
lion of the Congress to two subjects
concerning which / have frequently
before communicated with them. One
is the question of developing Ameri.
can shipping. | trust that law en-
bndying in substance the views, or
major part of the views, ,exprest in the
report on this subject laid before the
House at its last session will be past.
| am we'll 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-
tit 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
lmpracticable to enact a 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 ports.
1t is discreditable to us that our bust
ness people, for lack of direct COM
manication 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.
especially call your attention to
the second subject, the condition of
our currency laws. The national
bank act has ably served great pur-
pose in aiding the enormous business
development of the country; and
within ten years there has been an
increase in circulation per capita
from $21.41 to $33.0S. 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 bust
ness disaster. Since your body ad-
journed there has been a fuetuation
in the interest on call money from 2
per cent to 80 per cent; and the fluc-
tuation was even greater during the
preceding six months. The Secretary
of ho Traoc1,~xr hoI 70 ~ hH-
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 bor-
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.
1t is urged that these shall receive
the careful consideration of Congress
and that tariffs, etc, shall be upon
just basis.
Army and Navy.
The message goes at length into the
matter of the efficiency of our army
and navy. The President is much
gratiied 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 the
promotion of rifle prictise. Excellent
results have already come from this
law, but it does not go far enough,