Evening journal., 1908-01-31

the result is certain to be action on
the part OF the separate States. some-
times wise, sometimes ill-judged and
extreme, sometimes unjust and damag-
Ing 70 the railroads or other corpor-
ations, more often ineffective from
every standpoint. because the Federal
courts declare 1t unconstitutional.
Wrongs Will Be Corrected.
I'VE have Just passed through two
months of acute financial stress Al
any such time Il Is a sad fact that
entirely innocent people suffer from
no fault OF their own; and everyone
must feel the keenest sympathy for
the large body OF honest business men.
of honest investors, OF honest wage
workers, who suffer because involved
in a crash for which they are in no
way responsible. At such time there
Is a natural tendency on the part Of
many men 70 feel gloomy and fright
ened at the outlook; but there Is no
Justification for this feeling There is
no nation so absolutely sure OF ulti-
mate success as ours. OF course we
shall succeed ours Is a nation Of
masterful energy. with a continent for
its domain, and Il feels within ita
veins the thrill which comes to those
who know that they possess the future
We are not cast down by the fear OF
failure. We are upheld by the con-
hdent hope Of ultimate 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 prosperity Of the future,
or OF the lofty spiritual life which is to
be built upon that prosperity as a
foundation. No msdeeds done In the
present must be permitted to shroud
from our eyes the glorious future OF
the Nation but because Of this very
fact II behooves us never to swerve
from our resolute purpose to cut out
wrongdolng and uphold what is right.
Administration Not Responsible for
Depression.
Il do not for a moment believe that
the actions OF this Administration have
brought on business distress; so far
as this Is due 70 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 70 shield themselves from the ef-
: fects Of their own wrongdoing by
ascribing It's results 20 the actions Of
those who have sought to put q stop
to the wrongdoing. But II Il were
true that 10 cut out rottenness from
the body polite meant a nom entary
check TO an unhealthy seeming pros
perity. I should not for one moment
hesitate TO put the knife to the COR
ruptlon. On behalf Of all our people,
lon 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. It Is neces-
, sary TO insist upon honesty in busi-
ness and politics alike. IN all walks OF
{ life. in big things and In little things:
upon just and fair dealing 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 fervently do
we pray, that this mighty scourge may
speedily pass away Yet. II God Wills
that IL continue until all the wealth
piled by the bondsmen's two hundred
and Atty years OF unrequited toll shall
be sunk. and until every drop OF blood
drawn with the lash shall be paid by
another drawn with the sword, as was
said three thousand years ago, so stip
Il must be said, The judgments Of the
z Lord are true and righteous altogether
with malice toward none; with
charity for all; with firmness in the
right as God gives us 70 see the right
let us strive on to finish the work we
are in"
In the work we Of this generation
I are IN, there is. thanks be 20 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
= the men Of the South IN the dark days
when each valiantly batted for the
light as II was given each to see the
= light The spirit should be our spirit
n as we strive to bring nearer the day
when greed and truckers and cunning
shall be tramp'ed under feet by those
who fight for the righteousness that
], exalteth a nation"
v THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Ie The White House, January 81, 1908.