The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-05

whatever-and this includes almost all OF
the great corporations.
In the past few years the national Gov
eminent has taken very long strides IN
the direction Of exercising n securing
this adequate control over the great cor
porations, n IL was under the leadership
Of one OF the most honored public men in
our country. one OF Pennsylvania most
eminent sons-the present Senator. and
then Attorney-G General, Knox-that the
new departure was begun. Events have
moved fast during the last five years. and
IL Ia c uTious to look back at the extreme
bitterness which not merely the spokesmen
and representatives of organized wealth
but many most excellent. conservative
people then felt IA to tho action OF Mr.
Knox and ~ the Administration
Many OF the greatest ~hnanciers OF this
country were certain that Mr.. knoxs
Northern Securities suit, II won, would
plunge us into the worst panic we had ever
aeen. They denounced as Indictment TO
anarchy, az an apology for socialism the
advocacy OF policies that either have now
become law or are in fair way OF becoming
law; and yet these same policies, so FAR
from representing either anarchy or
socialism, were in reality tho antidotes 20
anarchy, the antidotes 10 socialism. To
exercise a constantly increasing and con-
stantly more efficient supervision and con-
troll over the great common carriers OF the
country prevents all necessity for seriously
considering such a project as the Govern
ment ownership Of railroads "A policy which
would he evil in its results from every
standpoint.
A similar extension Of the national power
to oversee and secure correct behavior in
the management of all great corporations
engaged in interstate business will, in sim
liar fashion, render far more stable the
present system by doing away with those
grave abuses which are not only evil in
themselves. but arc also evil because they
furnish an excuse for agiLators to inf'ane
we'll meaning people against all forms Of
property, and TO commit the country to
schemes Of wild. would-be remedy which
would work infinitely more harm than the
disease itself. The Government ought not
to conduct the business OF the country. but
il ought to regulate il 30 that it shall be
conducted in the interest Of the public.
II behooVes us Americans TO look ahead
and plan out the right kind Of a civilization
az that which We intend TO develop from
these wonderful new conditions Of vast in
dustrial growth. II must not be, il shall not
he, the civilization of a mere plutocracy,
a banking house, Wall Street syndicate
civilization; nor vet can there he submits
sion TO class hatred. 20 ancor brutality
and mob violence. for that would mean
the end Of all civilization.
We need to check the forces Of greed,
to insure Just treatment alike of capital
and Of labor, and of the general public,
to prevent any man, rich or poor, from
doing or receiving wrong, whether this
wrong be one OF cunning or Of violence,
Much can he lone by wise legislation and
by resolute enforcement Of the law. But
still more must be done by steady training
Of the individual citizen. in conscience
and CT. until he grows TO abhor cor
ruption and greed and tyranny and bru-
tally and TO prize Justice and fair dealing.
WASHINGTON. Oct. president Roose-
welt arrived in Washington from his Penn
sylvania trip at 730 O'Clock this evening.
exactly on time, There were no ia
on the nun from York.