The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1906-12-06

Agriculture.
The only other persons whose vel
fare Is as vital to the welfare Of the
whole country as Is the welfare Of
the wageworkers are the tiIlers of the
soil, the farmers. 1t is a mere trusiIn
To say that no growth of cities, no
growth of wealth, no industrial de-
velopment can atone for any falling
off IN the character aud standing of
the farming population. During the
last few decades this fact has been
recognized with ever-increasing clear
ness.
Marriage and Divorce.
am well aware of how difficult ii
'is TO pass constitutional amendment
Nevertheless in my Judgment the
whole question of marriage and di-
vorca should be relegated to the au-
thority of the National Congress. AT
present the wide difference in the
laws of the different States on this
subject result in scandals and abuses:
and surely there is nothing so yitally
essential to the welfare of the nation,
nothing around which the nation
should so bend itself to throw every
safeguard, as the home life of the
average citizen. The change would
be good from every standpoint
international Morality.
On the question of international
morality MI. Roosevelt comes out
strongly, advocating clean dealing be-
tween the nations of earth and also
strongly advocates international arbi-
tration as means of settling all diff
ficulties that may arise
American Shipping.
Let me once again call the atten-
tion of the Congress to two subjects
concer2ing which | 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 Ill
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 proposed in reference to the en-
couragement of American shipping;
but it seems to me that the proposed
measure is as nearly unObiectiOnable
as any can be.
Currency Reform.
I especially call your attention to
the second subject, the condition of
our currency laws. The national
bank act has ably served a 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 accumulatins
that additional legislation is needed
Our Island Possessions.
1t is urged that these shall receive
the careful consideration Of Congress
and that tariffs, ETC., shall be upon i
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
gratlfied at the progress we are max.
ing in both branches of our common
defense. In the matter of rife prac
tice the President says:
The Congress has most wisely pro.
vided for National Board for the
promotion of rifle practice. Excellent
results have already come from this
law, but it does not go far enough
Our Regular Army Is so small that i,
any great war we should have tt
! trust mainly to volunteers; and il
such event these volunteers should
already know how to shoot; for if 6
soldier has the fighting edge, ane
ability to take care of himself in th.
open his efficiency on the line of bat
tie is almost directly proportionatt
: to excellence in workmanship. w.
should establish shooting gallaries il
! the large public and military schools
should maintain national large
, ranges in different parts Of the coun
try, and should in every way ehcour
age the formation of rife club:
throughout all parts of the land. The
little Republic of Switzerland offer.
US an excellent example in all matter,
, connected with building up an effic
lent citizen soldiery.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
The White House, Dec. 3, 1906.