The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-02-27
H ughes Ta1ks
To Big Cropd
Addresses Chicago People on
George Washington and
Right Government.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Feb. 22-The prin.
cipal feature OF the Washington
Birthday celebration In Chicago was
held under the auspices OF the Union
League In the Auditorium.
The chief orator was Governor
Hughes, of New York, who spoke al
10:30. The Auditorium was filled
to overlooking.
Later second meeting was held
in Orchestra Hall at which Benjamin
Ide Wheeler delivered the chief ad.
dress.
We venerate Washington because
in supreme test. he INDICATED man.
hood. The standards OF liberty were
unsullied In his hands. We must
all take to heart the lesson OF his life
II we are to realize American ideals.
1t Is the lesson Of the supremacy OF
duty. 1t Is the lesson of honor-oi
fidelity to trust. It must be enforc-
ed in executive chambers, in legis-
1ative halls, in courts OF justice, in
newspaper Offices, in banks, in trust
and insurance companies, in profes.
sional and commercial life, in the
marts of trade, in the counting room
and in the shop, by employer and EN-
ployed.
There is no legislative road to
character. II the spirit of Washing
ton could permeate our public and
private life, we should neither need
nor seek governmental panacea.
And 1t is only in so far as in fact
this spirit imbues administration
that the government of free people
can perform It's function.
Country Morally Sound.
The country is morally sound. Its
standards OF business were never
higher. Making all allowances for
the extremes Of avarice and artifice,
for the unwholesome spectac!es of
exploitation and infidelity to trust,
without blinking any evil or CLOSING
over any wrong, the fact remains
that the business men of the coun-
try are for the most part honest men,
representing fairly the moral stand
ards of the people. And never more
than today have they, taken as a
whole, earnestly desired that abuses
shall be stopped, that an end shall be
put to corrupt dealing and unfair
practices. that gambling shall not
parade in business livery, and that
American industry and trade shall
have free scope for development and
extension along the lines of honor
able rivalry and with justice to stock
holders, to employees, and to the peo-
pie at large.
Pessimists and cynics cannot de-
velop this country. We must have
confidence in the stability of our in
situations. in the sanity of the peo-
pie, and in their realization of what
underlies our prosperity.
Beyond Wasl,ineton's Dreams.
We have only begun to develop
the commerce of this country. We
take just pride in our present enter
prise and achievements, but we may
believe that the commerce of the
future will as far exceed that of the
present as the varied production, the
vast extent OF commercial exchanges,
and the means of communication OF
today, transcend the hopes and even
the dreams of Washington.
This is no time for discourage
ment or hating, but for appreciation
of American opportunity and for
that intelligent and united effort by
which alone we can avail of 1t and
deserve the blessings of posterity.
To support this confidence and to
gain these ends we must have set.
tied governmental policy. And II
must be right policy.
1t must be policy consistent with
tne genius or our institutions. The
people of this country do not desire
socialism even as an experiment
They do not propose to pass through
a dreadful Quarter of an hour" Of
revolutionary changes to satisf,
themselves of those imperfections Of
human nature of which they are al
ready well apprised, and which make
impossible the constitution of so
ciety in accordance with socialist,
theory. We must make progress
and 1t must be steady and consistent
conserving what is good and safe
guarding the opportunities for hon
est effort. Otherwise, gains will b,
Offset by unnecessary losses and ex
pert accountants may search in vail
for a credit balance. We may as
complish needed reforms by maxim,
orr institutions worl, nc tha1, ,yar