New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-21
mo ACTION OF A
VINDICTIVE TYPE
PRESIDENT FIGHTS LAW
BREAKERS ONLY.
But He Viii Not Relar Efforts
to Prosecute Criminals,
Rich or Poor.

rBy Telegraph to The T-ibune.1


rBy Telegraph to The T-ibune1
Provincetown. Mass. Aug. 20. = President
Roosevelt. In the address which he delivered here
to-day at the laying OF the cornerstone of the
Cape Cod Pilgrims Memorial Monument. care
fully defined the policy and purposes of the ad-
ministration I'm it's campaign against laWbreah-
ing corporations and individuals Perhaps the
most interesting part Of this definition came IN
d passage when he departed from his original
manuscript to say that the government had not
undertaken and would not undertake., any
action of vindctive type. any which would
infifct unmerited suffering innocent STOCK
holders on the public as whole. and also 10
declare that the determination Of the govern
ment TO punish malefactors of great wealth
would not waver. and that there would be no
change in his policy during the rest of his adj
ministration
The President said that he regarded this con-
test to determine who should rule this
government-the people through their govern
mental agents, OF a few ruthless and determined
men whose wealth made them particularly for
rnidable. because they hid behind the breast
work of corporate organization
Continuing his depression. he said that the
government recognized the necessity of the use
of wealth in modern business and It's rights TO
liberal profits and dividends. and declared that
the governments policy in it's ultimate analysis
meant "a healthy and prosperous expansion OK
the business activities Of honest business men
and honest corporations"
At another point he departed for a moment
from his address. as originally prepared, to re-
mark:
'An that I have said 20 desirable and un-
desirable citizens remains true
Another feature of the Presidents speech was
his advocacy Of a national Incorporation law
as the best means OF controlling wealth engaged
in interstate commerce
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
The Presidents address. in full follows:
1t is not too much to say that the event COM
f1emorated by the monument which have
come here to dedicate was Of those rare
events which can, in good raiths De called or
world Importance. The coming hither OF the
Puritan three centuries ago shaped the des-
tinies of this continent, and therefore pro-
fOundly affected the destiny OF the whole world
Men of other races-the FTench1nan and the
Spaniard the DutChmdn, the Geruan, the
Scotchman and the Swede-rnade settlements
within what Is the United States. during
the colonial period OF our history and before the
declaration of independence. and since then
there has been an ever swelling immigration
from Ireland and from the mainland or EUROPE
but IT was the Englshman who settled In VIZ
ginia and the Englishman who settled IN ~ Aassa.
chusetts who did most in shaping the lines OF
our national development
we cannot as a nation be too profoundly
grateful for the fact that the Puritan has
stamped his influence so deeply on our national
life. We need have but scant patience with ths
who now rail at the Puritan's faults They
were evident. OF course. for IT IS a quality OF
strong natures that their Tallings. Ike their
virtues should stand out IN bold relief: but
there nothing easier than TO belittle the great
men OF the past by dwelling only on the points
where they come short of the universally recOS-
nized standards OF the present Men must be
Judged with reference TO the age IN which they
dwell and the work they have to do The
Puritans task was to conquer a continent: not
merely it, but TO settle it, to till IT. to
build upon II a high industrial and social life.
and, while engaged in the rough work or tam
ing the shaggy wilderness. at that very time
also lay deep the immOvable foundations OF
whole American system OF civil. politician
and religious liberty achieved through the or
derby process of law. This the work allOt-
ted him 10 do: this is the work ne did: and only
a master spirit among men could have done il.
We have travelled far since his day That
liberty of conscience which he demanded for
himself we now realize must be as freely ac-
corded to others IL Is resOlutely insisted upon
for ourselves. The splendid qualities which he
left to his children we other Americans VINO are
not of Puritan blood also claim as our heritage
YOU of the Puritans- and we. who are de-
have deemed alien We are all Americans to-
,ether We all feel the same pride In the
genesis. in the history. OF our people: anu
therefore this shrine of Puritanism is one at
which all gather 70 pay homage. no matter
from what country our ancestors sprang-
GAINS AND LOSSES.
We have gained some things that the Puritan
had motive of this generation. of the twen-
tieth century, here IN rhlS great repUDDC- DLt
we are also in danger of losing certain things
which the Puritan had and which We can by no
manner OF means afford to lose We have
gained Joy of living which he had not. and
which il Is a good thing for every people to
have and to develop Let see to il that we
do not lose what is more important still; that
we do not lose the Puritan's iron sense of duty.
his unbending unfiinching will to do the right
as il was given him TO see the right IL IS a
good thing that life should gain in sweetness.
but only provided that il does not lose in
strength. Ease and rest and pleasure are good
things but only If they come as the reward
of work we'll done. of a good fight well won o.
strong effort resOutely made and crowned by
high achievement The life OF mere pleasure OF
mere effortIess ease, is ignOble for nation
for an Individual The man Is but a poor father
who teaches his that ease and pleasure
Should be their chief objects in life; the woman
who is a mere petted toy. incapable OF serious
purpose. shrinking from effort and duty, is more
pitfabIe than the verieSJ OyerwOrked drudge 50
ne Is but a poor leader of the people. but a
poor national adviser. who seeks TO make the
nation in any way subordinate effort TO ease.
who would teach the people not to prize as the
greatest blessing the chance 70 do any work.
no matter how hard. If il becomes their duty
TO do H. To the sons of the Puritans IL IS
almost needless to say that the lesson above
ALI others which Puritanism can teach this ma
tion Is the ali Importance of the resOlute per-