The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-17
BY THEo: ROOSEVELT.

IL behoOves our people never TO fall
under the thraldom OF names, and
least OF all never to be misled by de-
signing people who appeal TO the rev.
erence for or antipathy toward a given
name in order To achieve some alien
purpose. or course such misuse Of
names Is as old as the history Of what
we understand when we speak OF civil
lied mankind The rule of n mob may
be every whit as tyrannical and OPP
pressive as the rule of a single indi-
vidual. whether or not called dicta-
tor; and the rule OF an oligarchy:
whether this oligarchy is a plutocracy
or bureaucracy, or any other small
set OF powerful men. may in It's turn
be just as sordid and just as blood
thirsty as that of a mob. But the
apologists for the mob or oligarchy
or dictator, In justifying the tyranny
use different words.
The mob leaders usually state that
all that they are doing Is necessary In
order to advance the cause of lib
erty," while the dictator and the
oligarchy are usually defended upon
the ground that the course they follow
Is absolutely necessary ST. as TO Sc
cure order" Many excellent people
are taken In by the use Of the word
liberty" at the one time. and the use
OF the word order" at the other, and
Ignore the simple fact that despotism
Is despotism. tyranny tyranny, oppres-
sion oppression, whether committed by
one individual or by many individuals,
by a state or by private corporation
Escaped Mob Rule.
We in this country have been very
fortunate. Thanks to the teachings
and the practice of the men whom we
most revere as leaders. OF he men IKE
Washington and Lincoln. we have NTH
erto escaped the twin CULTS OF despot
ism and mob rule. and we have never
been In any danger from the worst
forms of religious bitterness. But we
should therefore be all the more care
fnI as we deal with our industrial AMI
social problems, not to fall into mis-
takes similar to those which have
brought lasting disaster on less lot
tunately situated peoples.
First and foremost we must stand
armly on a basis OF good sound ethics
we intend 20 do what is right Tor the
annie and sufficient reason that II Is
richt II business is hurt by the stern
evnosure of crookedness and the re-
emil Of efforts to punish the crooked
man. then business must be hurt, even
though good men are involved In the
hurting. until it so adjusts itself that
Il Is possible 10 prosecute wrong-do-
tho without stampedtug the business
community into terror-struck de-
tense Of the wrongdoers and an angry
assault upon those who have exposed
chem On the other hand, we must
beware above all things. Of being
misled by wicked or foolish men VINO
would condole homicide and violence,
and apologize for the dynamlter ana
The assassin because, forsooth, theV
choose TO take the ground that crime
&c M crime If the wicked man happens
also 70 have been a shiftiess and I'M
thrifty or lazy man who has never
amassed property.
Rich Must Not Rule.
II Is essential that we should wrest
rho control OF the government out OF
the hands Of rich men who use IL foG
unhealthy purposes. and should keep
il out OF their hands; and to this emo
the first requisite is 10 provide means