The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-04

| which, as firmly believe, will speedily
be enacted OF course, in any move
ment like this in which we are now en-
gagged, in any movement looking to the
| regulation of vast corporate wealth en-
gagged in interstate business, and to the
cutting out of all abuses connected
Herewith. there will at times be suf-
fering in which, unfortunately, many
innocent people will be involved. But
such suffering of the innocent is un-
avotdable in every great movement OF
life. Able and INSCRIPTIONS men are
sure to deceive certain innocent out
sfders and persuade them to invest in
ventures under conditions, which rem
der loss certain when the force of the
law is asserted. 1 am exceedingly sor-
ry for these innocent people; but it is
not possible, because of them, to re-
fuse to proceed against the men who
have victimized them. 1t, is just such
case as would occur If an unscrupu-
lous man with counterfeit money visit
ed some remote village, spent his mon
ey, and then disappeared. The local
innkeeper and livery stable keeper, the
shopkeeper and the neighboring farmer,
would all have been victimized; they
would have lodged and fed the man,
have supplied him with goods from the
store and the farm, have hired horses
and wagons to him, and in return would
find themselves loaded with counter
felt money. If, under such circum-
stances, the government found out
what had happened it would have no
alternative save to stop the circulation
of the counterfeit money, though those
possessing it were innocent 1t would,
of course, try to secure the conviction
of the thief, but If he had escaped the
jurisdiction of the law, it would never
theless be impossible to let his inno-
cent victims continue to pass his by
no means innocent counterfeit money.
Well, just the same thing is true when
it comes to enforcing the law against
business men of great wealth who have
violated it.
The Innocent Bystander.
People are always beseeching me not
to enforce it against them. because in
nocent outsiders may be hurt, or, only
to enforce it with a gentleness that
would prevent anybody, good or bad,
from being hurt. 1t is not possible to
comply with such requests, even when
they are made in good faith. This is
a government of law, law which APP
plies to great and small alike. I am
sorry indeed when it happens that big
men who do wrong have involved small
er men with no bad intentions to such
an extent that they suffer when we
force the undoing OF the wrong. But
we can not hold our hands for such
consideration. The responsibility for
the suffering of those innocent outsiders
lies, not with US who put stop to
the wrong and punish the wrongdoers.
but with these wrongdoers who mislead
their victims.
In conclusion, friends. let me i'm
press upon you one thing. Good laws
can do much good; indeed, they are
often Indispensable. There is urgent
need that we should have honest and
efficient legislation and honest and eff1- |
cient action by those whose province |
it is to put the legislation Into effect |
But there is Infinitely more need OF q
high individual average of character. |
The only permanent way to help any |
man is to help him to help himself. |
To teach him permanently to depend |
on anything save his own powers is 20 |
do him harm and not good. Let no |
man persuade you that laws by them
selves, no matter how necessary and |
beneficial. will make any community
chief factors in securing such hap
piness and prosperity In the last
analysis the vital factor in each mans
effort to achieve success in life must
be his own character, his own courage
and uprightness and intelligence. In
this audience are many men who wore
the gray in the great civil war. In
every audience I have spoken to on
this trip there have been men who
fought in either the Union or Confed-
crate army and often representatives
from both armies. Now, you men
know that while in time of war there
is need of good generalship, need OF
good organization, yet the determine
ing factor in the regiment, the brigade,
the army is, and must ever be, the III
dividual character of the 1nd1v1duat
|
resolution, his stern fidelity
to duty, his capacity to act on his own
individual responsibility when neces.
sary, and yet to serve over or under or
with others in perfect harmony and
obedience. 1t is the character of the
man in the ranks which primarily de-
termines the failure or success of bat
tie and campaign. In the great civil
war our armies, northern and southern
alike. won their high position forever
and all time in the undying regard and
of their fellow citizens, be-
cause the average man in the ranks,
the average man who carried saber or
rifle, had this high standard of per-
sonal quality. Just as it was In time
Of war, so it is now in time of peace.
If a man has not got the right STUFF
in him then no law can possibly get IL
put of him, because it is not there to ;
get out All that the law can do is to
punish evil to encourage what is good,
and to secure, so far as is possible. an
equality of opportunity for all men to
show their strength of body, nina, ana {
soul in the hard struggle of life.
LIFE OF TRADE.