The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-11-28

be remem bered, have been advocated
by President Roosevelt. It is safe to
predict that they will be among the
most important matters of discussion
in the new congress.
An American Problem.
Vast private fortunes in America
have grown up since the civil war.
There were no enormously wealthy
men prior to that struggle. Old Com
modore Vanderbilt's $1O,OOO,OOO was
the largest private fortune in the Unit
ed States sixty years ago. Now
multimillionaire is such an ordinary
sight on the streets of many American
cities that he attracts little more at
tention than the average citizen, while
several men hold possessions exceed
ing $100,000,000 each. Thus the inher-
itance tax, which in some European
countries has been required by law for
many years, has become an American
problem.
When Charles Sumner, young man
Of forty, entered the United States SEN
ate, in 1851, the veteran Thomas II.
Benton of Missouri in his pompous
manner greeted the new senator with
the remark that he had come to the
senate too late, that all the great men
were dead and all the great questions
were settled. Yet Mr.. Sumner and his
colleagues found great questions to
settle, so great that they had to be
submitted to the arbitrament of the
sword. Now, nearly half a century
after the decision was reached that
these states form one great and pow
erful nation, new problems for states
manship to solve have arisen, appar-
emily of Importance not less than were
those Of the time Of Benton and that
of Sumner Immediately following.
Several of these problems will engage
the attention of the Sixtieth congress.
John G. Whittier thought James G.
Blaine greater man than Henry Clay.
It is quite probable that there are in
congress now men as great in mental
caliber, in eloquence and in patriotism
as were the Websters, the Clays, the
Calhouns, the Bentons, the Summers,
the Blaines of other days, but there is
an excellent reason why these men do
not stand forth like brilliant beacon
lights as did the half dozen statesmen
mentioned. The general standard of
ability and learning has been raised
since the Bentonian days, so that the
few leaders are not so conspicuous.
Nearly Everything Changed.
The development Of the city of
Washington is typical of the growth
Of the nation. In the past half cen
tury the United States has changed so
vastly that Daniel Webster, who de-
clared that all the country west Of the
Rockies was and must forever remain
a worthless wilderness, would not rec
ognize this as his native land should he
be permitted to return and take a
transcontinental trip. About the only
thing in washington which Webster
would recognize is the portico Of the
White House. Nearly everything else
has changed.
These changes and developments
have brought about the great new
problems which this congress will dis
cuss, One of the highly important new
propositions is that of the restoration
and improvement Of inland waterways.
President Roosevelt has promised to
advocate the creation of deep water
way from the great lakes to the gulf.
and it is probable that this matter will
receive attention from the incoming
congress. It has bearing upon the
railroad rate problem, by the way
Congress, it is held by some, has
chance to kill two big birds with one
stone by putting the rivers in competi-
ton with the railroads in the carrying
Of freight. The rates, it is believed,
will be reduced, and the surplus prod
ucts Of many states now suffering for
lack of transportation facilities will be
moved promptly.
Another little matter which would
make the shade Of any statesman prior
to 1860 corrugate with amazement is
to be handled by this congress. An
appropriation will be requested for
war balloon or airsnip feet.
Truly the world moves, particularly
the part of the world that surrounds
washington, and we cannot censure
Uncle Sam for giving his legislators
better facilities for doing their work.