The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-02-04

ceived frem corporations. which IN.
jury the federal cccrtS forbid the states
to try 10 remedy. while the federal
government nevertheless rcfrains from
Itself taking adequate measures To pre-.
vids remedy. IL cannot too strongly
be insisted that the defenders and apol.
ogists Of the great corporations who
have sought IA the post and stin seek
TO prevent adequate action by the fed.
eral government to control these great
corporations are not only proving false
TO the people. but are having up a day
OF wrath Tor the great corpora lions
themselves. The nation viii not toll.
crate an utter lack Of control over very
wealthy men OF enormous power in
the Industrial and therefore in the so
cial lives OF all our people. some of
whom have shown themselves cynical.
ly and brutality Indifferent 70 the in
terestS Of the people. and II the con
gresS does not act with good tempered
and sensible hut resolute tho-ouShReSs
in cutting out the evils and in provid.
ing an effective supervision the result
is certain 10 be action on the part OF
the separate states. sometimes wise.
sometimes ~ judged snd extreme.
sometimes unjust aud damaging to the
railroads or other corporations. morn
often ineffective from every standpoint
because the federal courts declare IT
unconstitutional
We have Just passed through two
months OF acute financial stress. At
any such time II Is sad fact that on
tirely innocent people suffer from no
fault Of their own. and every one must
fee the keenest sympathy for the large
body OF honest business men. of hon
est investors OF honest wayeworkerS
who suffer because involved in a crash
Tor which they are In no way response
bic. At such a time there Is a natural
tendency on the part OF many men TO
feel gloomy and frightened at the out
look. but there is no justification for
this feeling There Is no nation so ab-
solutely sure Of ultimate success rs
ours. OF course we shall succeed
Ours is nation Of masterful energy.
with a continent for its domain. and II
feels within its veins the thrin which
comes To those who know that they
possess the future We are not coSf
down by the fear Of failure. We are
upheld by the confident hope Of ulti.
mate triumph. The wrongs that exist
are TO be corrected. but they in no way
Justify doubt as TO the final outcome.
doubt as 10 the great material pros-
perity Of the future or Of the lofty
spiritual life which Is To lie built upon
that prosperity rs foundation. No
misdeeds done In the present must be
permitted 10 shroud from our eyes the
glorious future OF the nation. but be-
cause Of this very fact il behooves Ms
never 10 swerNe from our resolute mr.
pose to cut out wrongioing and mn
hold what is right.
Administration Not to Blame.
/ do not for a moment believe that
the actions Of this administration have
brought on business distress. So far
as this Is due 10 local and not world
Wide causes and TO the actions OF any
particular individuals. Il is due TO the
speculative folly and fragrant dishon-
esty OF Few men OF great wealth who
seek to shield themselves from the
effects Of their own wrongdolnr nv
ascribing it, results to the actions OF
those who have sought TO put a stop
to the wrongdoing. But IL II were true
that TO cut out rOttenncss from the
body polite meant n momentarv checl,
to an unhealthy seeming prosperity |
should not FOR one moment hesitate 70
put the knife TO the corruption. ON
behalf Of all our people. on behalf no
less OF the honest man OF means than
Of the honest man who earns each
days livelihood by that days sweat OF
his brow. II Is necessary 10 insist unon
honesty in business and politics alike.
IN all walks Of life. In big things and
In little things. upon just and fair dea1
Ing as between man and man. Those
who demand this are striving for the
right In the spirit OF Abraham Lincoln
when he said:
"Fondly do we hope. ferventlv do we
pray. that this mighty scourge NAV
speedily pass away. Yet II God wills
that II continue until all the wealth
piled by the bondsmen's go years Of
unrequited toll shall be sunk and nm
III every drop Of blood drawn with the
lash shall he paid by another drawn
with the sword, as was said 5000 years
ago, so still il must be said. The iudg-
ments Of the Lord are true and right
eous altogether
with malice toward none. with char
ity for all, with frmness in the right.
as God gives Us TO see the right. let Us
strive on TO finish the work we are In -
Virtues Of Civil War Days Needed.
In the work we Of this generatiou
are in there is, thanks be TO the Al
mighty, no danger of blOodshed and no
use for the sword, but there Is grave
need OF those stern qualities shown
alike by the men OF the north and tn,
men OF the south in the dark days
when each valiantly battled for the
light as il was given each to see the
light. Their spirit shQpld be our splr-
1t as we strive to bring nearer the day
when greed and trickery and cunning
shall be trampled under feet by those
who fight for the righteousness that
exalteth nation.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House, Jan. 81, 1908.