The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-02-05
WEDNESDAY, FEB. ), 1908.
SWINGS THE BIG STICK.

President Roosevelt serves notice
upon his critics that he does not
propose to quit the campaign against
successful dishonesty. The message
is Q forcible and defiant reply to the
attacks made upon the policy OF the
administers alton, and will undoubtedly
be endorsed by the public generally
as a rebuke to the powerful interests
that have sought to misrepresent and
discredit his efforts to secure a square
deal in everything that affects the
American people. The general tenor
of the message is indicated in these
extracts:
Under no circumstances would we
countena attacks on law-abiding
property or do aught but condemn
those who hold up rich men as being
evil men because of their riches. On
the contrary, our whole effort Is to
insist that neither wealth o poverty
nor any other class distinction is
aproper stand ard by which to judge
the actions of men. For the honest
man of great wealth we have a hearty
regard. Just as we have a hearty
regard for the honest politician and
the honest newspaper. But part OF
the movement to uphold honesty must
be a movement to frown on dishonesty.
We attack only the corrupt men Of
wealth who find in the purchased poll
tician the most efficient instrument of
corruption and in the purchased news.
paper the most efficient defender of
corruption.
Sweeping attacks upon all property,
upon all men OF means, without re.
gard to whether they do we'll or i'll,
would sound the death knell OF the
republic: and such attacks become
inevitable If decent persons permit
those rich men whose lives are cor
rupt and evil to domineer in swollen
pride, unchecked and unhindered over
the destinies of this country. W. act
in no indicative spirit, and we are
no respectors of persons. If a labor
union does wrong, we oppose it as
firmly as we oppose a corporation
which does wrong: and we stand
stoutly for the rights OF men of wealth
and for the rights of the wage-worker.
We seek to protect the property OF
every man who acts honestly, of every
corporation that represents wealth
amassed and honestly used. We seek
to stop wrong doing, and we desire
to punish the wrong. doors only 90 far
as is necessary to achieve this end.
There is no nation 80 absolutely
sure of ultimate success as ours. OF
course We shall succeed. Ours is a
nation OF masterful energy. with q
continent %for.its domain, and it feels
within its 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 confident hope of ultimate
triumph. The wrongs that exist are
to be corrected: but they in no way
justify doubt "a to the final outcome,
doubt rs to the great material pros
perity of the future, or of the lofty
spiritual life which is to be built upor
that prosperity as a foundation. Nc
misdeeds done in the present must be
permitted to shroud from our eyes the
glorious future of the nation; but be.
cause OF this very fact it behooves Us
never to swerve from our resolute
purpose to cut out wrongdoing and
uphold what is right.
On behalf OF all our people, on be.
half no less of the honest man O
lean than of the honest man who
earns each days livelihood by tina
days sweat of his brow, it is neces.
sary to insist upon honesty in bust.
ness and politics alike, in all walks
of life, in big things and in littl,
things; upon just and fair dealing az
between man and man.
A RECORD OF PROGRESS.