The Washington herald., 1907-08-21
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.

The PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
After discussing the traits Of the Puri-
tans. and holding the hardy settlers OF
New England up as examples for the
youth Of the nation. the President in his
speech at the cornerstone laying Of the
Pilgrim Memorial Monument at Province
town, Mass, yesterday, launched into his
speech proper, as follows:
He is a poor leader Of the people. a
poor national adviser, who seeks 10 make
the nation in any way subordinate effort
to ease, who would teach the people not
70, prize as the greatest blessing the
chance to do any work. no matter how
hard, if 1t becomes their duty to do it.
To the sons Of the Purltans 1t is almost
needless to say that the lesson above all
others which Puritanism can teach this
nation is the au-importance Of the reso-
lutte performance of duty. II We are men.
we will pass by with contemptuous dis
doin alike the advisers who would seek
10 lead US into the paths Of ignoble ease,
and those who would teach US TO admire
successful wrOngdoing.
Our ideals should be high, and yet they
should be capable Of achievement IN
practical fashion.
Places Duty First.
II it were in my power 10 promise the
people OF this land anything. I would not
promise them pleasure. I would promise
them that stern happiness which comes
from the sense OF having done in prac-
tical fashion a difficult work which was
worth doing
The Puritan was no Laodicean, no
laissez-faire theorist When he saw con
duct which was in violation Of his rights
or the rights Of man, the rights OF Cod
as he understood them-he attempted to
regulate such conduct with instant. un-
questioning promptness and effectiveness
II there was no other way 70 secure con-
formity with the rule Of right, then he
smote down the transgressor with the
iron of his wrath The spirit Of the
Puritan was a spirit which never shrank
from regulation Of conduct II such regula-
ton was necessary for the public veal;
and this is the spirit which we must
show to-day whenever it is necessary
Discusses State Rights.
The utterly changed conditions of our
national Ife necessitate changes in GER
tain Of our laws. Of our governmental
methods. Our federal system Of gov
eminent is based upon the theory Of
leaving TO each community, 10 each
State, the control over those things which
affect only its own members and which
the people of the locality themselves can
best grapple with. while providing for
national regulation in those matters which
necessarily affect the nation as a whole.
1t seems to me that such questions as
national sovereignty and state rights
need TO be treated not empirically or
academically, but from the standpoint of
the interests Of the people as a whole.
National sovereignty Is 10 be upheld in
SO far as 1t means the sovereignty Of
the people used for the real and ultimate
good Of the people; and State rights are
70 be upheld in so far as they mean the
peoples rights. Especially Is this true
In dealing with the relations Of the people
as a whole to the great corporations
which are the distinguishing feature of
modern business conditions.
Experience has shown that II IS neces-
sary 10 exercise a far more efficient con-
troll than at present over the business use
Of those vast fortunes, chiefly corporate
which are used (as under modern condi-
tions they almost invariably are) in in
terstate business. When the Constitution
was created none Of the conditions Of
modern business existed. They are wholly
new and we must create new agencies
to deal effectively with them. There is
no objection in the minds of this people
to any mans earning any amount Of
money If he does il honestly and fairly.
If he gets it as the result Of special
skill and enterprise, as a reward of ample
service actually rendered. But there IS a
growing determination that no man shall
amass a great fortune by special privi-
lege. by chicanery and wrongdoing. so
far as il is in the power of legislation
10 prevent; and that the fortune when
amassed shall not have a business use
that is antisOcial
state Control Not Sufficient.
Most large corporations do a business
that is not confined TO any one State /
Experience has shown that the effort to |
control these corporations. by mere State /
action. can not produce wholesome re-
suits. In most cases such effort fails |
10 correct the real abuses Of which the \
corporation is or may be guilty: while !
Ia other cases the effort is apt 10 cause
sither hardship 10 the corporation itself. /
or else hardship TO neighboring States
which have not tried 10 grapple with the
problem in the same manner; and of
course We must be as scrupulous TO safe
guard the rights Of the corporations as