The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-22
Patience IL very necessary. for
Il perceive TINT many things In
this life do fall out as we would
not.-Thomns a Kempis.
COMPARISON AND CONTRAST.

The Baltimore Sun suggests the pos
sibility that Secretary Taft's speech at
Columbus, o., and the Presidents ad-
dress at Provncetown, Mass. We're the
products of statesmen who had taken
counsel of each other when they were
preparing their addresses.
Comparison of their speeches." says
our contemporary. 'leads to the con-
clusion that Secretary Taft and the
President got together when they were
putting their addresses into shape
we had already noticed the points
of resemblance in the two speeches and
the signs that these two statesmen
had compared notes." For example.
hoth used the term .'laissez-faire,
which could hardly have been an acci-
dental coincidence. And yet there are
points of fundamental difference. one
of which we mentioned in yesterdays
issue But the most notable difference
liz the two speeches is to be found In
their tone and temper. M. Tart
speech is quite as vigorous and pro-
nounced as the Presidents, but 1t Is
calm moderate and amiable. while Mr.
Roosevelt's speech is sensational. radi-
cal and. vindictive, not to say, IN some
parts of 1t, spiteful. Taft's speech may
be likened to the writings of Moses the
law-g.ver: Roosevelt's to Davids
psalms of imprecation. The President
spoke as one who was determined to
punish the predatory rich" not merely
because they have broken the laws but
because they are mine enemies"
According to the President, the
"predatory rich were first lawless and
then revengeful. They violated the
formed conspiracy to stampede the
stock market and cause a financial
panic in order to .aiscredt the Roose-,
Welt administration. The President Of
the United States should be sure Of his
facts before bringing such a charge.
which of itself is enough to impair
confidence at home. and especially
abroad. But even il he had positive
proof of such conspiracy. 1t seems to
us rather an undignihed proceeding for
the President of the United States. in
delivering a historical address. to so
out of his way to hurl anathemas at
.stock jobbers" There was in that
part of the address show Of bad
temper and an ill-concealed feeling of
PERSONAL resentment, which does the
President no credit. Aside from the
question of propriety. the President
could not hope to improve the financial
situation, which he admitted TO be criti-
cal, by proclaiming to the world that
"malefactors of wealth had combined
to bring about as much financial stress
as they possibly could to discredit the
policy of the government" That par,
of the Presidents address has the havo,
of stump speech, and was most In
appropriate, TO say the least, upon such
an occasion.
The Philadelphia Ledger character
fees the utterance as sophomore, anc
politely adds that If II had not beer
uttered by the President, it might be
called demagogic.
"There are now" says the Ledger
"as always, bears and bulls on tn.
stock market; they play upon uncertain
conditions and upon fears and alarms
and rumors; they are gamblers. Blu
the insinuation that great interests ant
men representing great properties de
sire, even If they be rich malefactors
and sons of Plutus, to drive down Sc
curities and depreciate their own grea
properties and industries, is a most in
genious View. 1t must be apparent t,
the novice that even the wicked ricl
men make their money through the in
yestments by a great multitude. The
float securities and sell stocks an
bonds; but If they actually brighten tn
general public SO thoroughly that ther
Is no sale for stocks and bonds an
other securities; aud IL they depres
thevalue of the corporations, the sourc
OF wealth of the rich will be cut of
However maiehcsnt these rich men ma
be, 1t Is not reasonable to credit theI
with stppidity SO deep"
We do not think that the Presider
has gained anything for himself nc
for the financial situation by springin
this conspiracy" on the public. Th
public have before heard Of the Pres
dents conspiracies. and are not dis
posed to attach too mucn tmportanc