New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-23
ACKNOWLEDGES GOOD SERVICE.

desire to make grateful acknowledgment TO
the men both in and out of the government
service who have prepared the first inventory
Of our natural resources They have made II
possible for this nation 20 take great step
forward Their work Is helping US 10 see that
the greatest questions before are not partisan
questions, but questions upon which men or an
parties and ali shades of opinion may be united
for the common good. Among such questions
on the material side. the conservation OF nat
ural resources stands first. II rs the bottom
round of the ladder on our upward progress tow
ard condition in which the nation as whole.
and its citizens individuals. will set national
efficiency and the public welfare before personal
profit.
The policy Of conservation is perhaps the most
typical example of the general policies which
this government has made peculiarly lts own
during the opening years OF the present century.
The function Of our government is 10 insure 70
ell its citizens now and hereafter their rights
TO life. liberty and the pursuit Of happiness II
we of this generation destroy the resources from
which our children would otherwise derive their
livelihood, We reduce the capacity of our land
10 support a population. and SO either degrade
the standard OF living or deprive the coming
generations OF their right to life on this con-
tinent. II we allow great industrial oTgantza-
tions to exercise unreguiated control Of the
means of production and the necessaries OF life
we deprive the Americans OF to-day and OF the
future Of Industrial liberty, right no less prec-
ious and vital than political freedom. Indus
trial liberty fruit of political liberty. and
in turn has become one Of its chief supports,
and exactly we stand for political democracy
so we must stand for Industrial democracy.
The rights TO life and liberty are fundamental,
and like other fundamental necessities when
once acquired they are little dwelt upon. The
right 10 the pursuit Of happiness Is the right
whose presence or absence is most likely TO be
felt in daily life. In whatever il has accom-
plished, or failed TO accomplish the adnninistra-
ton which Is just drawing to close has at least
seen clearly the fundamental need Of freedom
Of opportunity for every citizen. We have
realized that the right OF every man TO live his
own life, provide for his family. and endeavor
according to his abilities. to secure for himself
and for them fair share of the good things of
existence. should be subject to limitation
should be limited only by the present and fut-
rights. interests and needs OF the other in
dividuals who make UP the community We
should do all in our power TO develop and pro-
tect individual liberty, individual initiative but
subject always TO the need Of preserving and
promoting the general good. When necessary,
the private right must yield, under due process
OF law and with proper compensation, TO the
welfare of the commonwealth. The man who
serves the community greatly should be greatly
rewarded by the community; as there is great
inequality Of service. SO there must be great in
equality of reward: but no man and no set of
men should be allowed 10 play the game Of COM
petition with loaded dice.
All this is simply good common sense. The
underlying principle of conservation has been
described as the application Of common sense
the description Is correct, then conservation is
the great fundamental basis for national eff
cheney. In this stage OF the worlds history to
be fearless TO be Just and to be efficient are the
three great requirements of national life Ma
tional efficiency IS the result Of natural re-
sources we'll handled, OF freedom Of opportunity
for every man. and Of the inherent capacity,