The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-10-04

money. If, under UGH circumstances,
the government found out what had hap
pened 1t would have no alternative save
to stop the circulation of the counterfeit
money, though those possessing 1t were
Innocent. 1t would, Of course, try to secure
the conviction of the thief, but If he had
escaped the Jurisdiction of the law, 1t
would nevertheless be impossible to let
his innocent victims continue to pass his
by no means innocent counterfeit money.
Well, just the sam thing is true when
1t comes TO enforcing the law against
business men of great wealth who ave
violated 1t. People are always beseechine
me not to enforce 1t against them, because
innocent 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,
a law which applies to great and small
aiike / am sorry indeed when it happens
that big men who do wrong have involved
smaller men with no bad intentions to
such an extent that they suffer vi:ri we
force the undoing of the wrong. But we
cannot hold our hants for such a con-
sideration. The responsibility for the suf-
fering Of those innocent outsiders lies,
not With us who put d stop to the wronG
and punish the wrong l,srs. but with these
wrongdcers who nIsleai their victims.
I'm conclusion, friends, let me impress
upon you one thing. Good laws can do
much good; indeed, they are often 1ndis-
pensablec There is urgent need that we
should have honest and efficient legisla-
tion and honest and efficient action by
those whose province 1t is to put the legis-
lation into effect. But there is infinitely
more need of a high individual average
of character. The only permanent way
to helm any man is to helm h'r' r. = y
himself. To teach him permanently to de-
'end on anything Slvo ms Ora ! : -
is to do him harm a. rc =
man persuade you that laws by them
selves. no matter now nece- ; ~ IL
and prosperous, or be ever the chief fac
tors in securing such happiness and pros
perity. In the last analysis the vital fac
tor in each mans effort to achieve success
in life must be his own character his
own courage and u%prightness and inteili-
ence. In this audience are many -
who wore the gray in the great Civil
War. In every audience | lave spoken
to on this trip there have been me-, w'o
fought in either the Union or Confederate
Army. and often representatives IRON
while In time of war there is need of good
generalship, need of good organization,
vet the determining factor in the regiment,
be- the Hiesi indiiv ide dn't Character Of the indi-
vidual soldier; his prowess, his hardwood,
his unyielding resolution, his stern fdei-
ity to duty, his capacity to act act on Ssc his
sary, and yet to serve over or under or
with Others in perfect harmony and ODE
dience.
TT is the character of the man in the
ranks which primarily determines the
failure or success of battle and campaign.
In the great Civil War our armies, North
ern and Southern alike. won their high
position forever and all time in the UNI
dying regard. and admiration of their fell
low citizens, because the average man In
the ranks, the average man who carried
sabre or rife, had this high standard of
personal quality. Just as it was In nm
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 1t out Of him:
that the law can do is to punish evil, to
encourage what is good, and to secure, so
far as possible, an equality of opportunity
mind and soul In the hard struggle of
life'