New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-27

THE PRESIDENTS JAMEST0WN SPEECH.
President ROOsevelt's speech at the opening
Of the jamestown exposition contains no new
doctrine but it restates admirably the politi-
cal philosophy which he breaches and on which
he acts 1t is we'll to consider this philosophy
dispassionately at a time when concerted ef-
fort is being made to picture Mr.. Roosevelt as
innovator and a radical. There are many
people who are easily captured by phrase or
name. and the opponents of the President are
crafty enough TO play on this weakness by in
sinuating. if not openly charging, that he is an
agitatOr bent disturbing existing ideas and
upsetting existing values. Conservatives in pol
tiles and in business are invited TO repudiate
his policies as novel" and dangerous
But in what respect are these policies either
novel or dangerous? At yesterdays cele-
bration the President briefly developed the two
underlying ideas In his political creed. The first
is that the cure for many Of the evils from
which we have suffered politically is to be found
in a better application of the principle Of de-
mOcracy. 1t Is a common saying that Amerl-
cans-especially Americans Of the more intelli-
gent and progressive type-are too busy to pay
any attention TO politics. They are engrossed
with business. money making and the prob
lens OF industrial and commercial develop
ment They have let politics alone. standing
apart and, except where their own personal in
task OF government to the professional polit
clans. The long sectional struggle over slav-
cry magnlfed the power and Importance of
party organizations and blind subServience to
party further limited the interest Of the tndi-
ViduaI in the promotion Of efficient administra-
ton and good government. The President has
consistently emphasized the duty Of the cit-
zen 10 the state and urged much closer atten-
ton his part TO the practical details Of poll
-. -, g1e
and no exempts. The voter who will not think
for himself and who seeks to shut politics out
OF his daily life is an unworthy citizen. The
President justly says
Men can never escape being governed. Either
they must govern themselves or they must sub
NIT 10 being governed by others. II from law
lessness or hckleness, from folly or self-indul-
gence. they refuse to govern themselves. then
most assuredly in the end they will have 10 be
governed from the outside.
An intelligent, active and patriotic applIca-
ton OF the democratic principle would end
much Of the mlsgOvernment of which we have
had to cOmpIain-especlally in our larger states
and larger cities.
But IL the citizen owes the state a fuller
duty the state In its turn owes the citizen a
fuller protection Undoubtedly, as the Presi-
dent said yesterday, the greatest problem be-
store us Is how to exercise such control over
"but especially corporate. will insure its not
being used against the interest of the public,
while yet permitting such ample legitimate
profits as Will encourage individual initiative"
The democratic individualism preached by JEFF
fersOn destroyed the Old World system OF pO-
litical inequality and assured each man an
equality OF political opportunity. But in free
ing the individual as far as possible from
governmental control Jefferson's plan did not
foresee the development OF the fictitious cor
pOrate individuality, with enormously multi
piled powers, which would come eventually TO
Overshadow the actual individual By allowing
the inanimate corporation all the privileges Of
the real person, without the real persons physl-
cal accountability to law and TO society our
political and economic balance has been more
or less upset. President Roosevelt is Iaboring
to right the balance again by shearlng corpora
tons Of their too dangerous powers and max
ing them an entirely helpful factor in national
development His spirit and purposes are not
those of a destructive radical, but of a true
conservative. He intends no war upon existing
interests. no prescription for the mistakes or
errors OF the past. The reform which lasts Is
that which is accomplished with temperatures
and caution without heat and without malice.
The President quotes approvingly Burkes SEN
tence: IF cannot reform with equity | will
not reform at all" That is the only sort Of
reform which has a place on his programme