The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-09-24
SPEECH WHICH
CAUSED ROW

Tha, not the least Of the causes con.
iributing 10 the socalled Pinchot Bal.
finger row, was the misquotation and
neutrality-suspicious. OF a speech delivered
by Clifford Pinchot before the Ma
tional conservation congress, is the
claim made by conservationisis. IL 10
charged that Mr.. Pinchot was deliber.
ately misquoted in some Of the news.
papers which oppose his policy. The
full and correct text Of the mooted
address follows:
The most valuable citizen Of this or
any other country is the man who owns
the land from which he makes his liv-
ing. No other man has such n stake
in the country. No other man lends
such steadiness and stability TO our ma
tional life. Therefore, no other ques-
ton concerns us more intimately than
the question of homes. Permanent
homes for ourselves, our children and
our nation-this is the central problem.
The policy of national irrigation is of
value to the United States in very
many ways, but the greatest of all is
this, that national irrigation multiplies
the men who own the land from which
they make their living. The old say
ing, "Who ever heard Of a man should
ering his gun to fight for his boarding
house, reflects this great truth, that
no man is so ready to defend his coun-
try, not only with arms, but with his
vote, and his contribution to public
opinion as the man with a permanent
II. a a . la
land from which he makes his living.
Our country began as a nation of
farmers. During the periods that gave
il its character, when our independence
was won and when our Union was pre-
served, we were prominently a nation
Of farmers. We can not, and we ought
not, to continue exclusively. or even
chiefly, an agricultural country, be-
cause one man can raise food enough
for many. But the farmer who owns
his land is still the backbone of this
nation; and one of the things we want
most is more of him.
The man on the farm is valuable to
the nation, like any other citizen, just
in proportion to his intelligence, char
acter, ability, and patriotism, but I'M
like the other citizens also in proper
ton to his attachment to the soil. That
is the principal spring of his steadiness,
his sanity, his simplicity and direct
ness, and many of his other desirable
qualities. He is the first of home
makers.
The nation that will lead the world
will be nation of homes. The object
of the great conservation movement
is just this, to make our country per-
manent and prosperous home for our
selves and for our children, and for our
ahildren's children, and it is task
that is worth the best thought and
effort of any and all Of us.
To achieve this or any other great
result, straight thinking and strong
thinking comes first. To make this
must think clearly and directly about
our problems, and above all we must
understand what the real problems are.
The great things are few and simple,
but they are too often hidden by false
issues, and conventional, unreal think
ing. The easiest way to hide a real
issue always has been, and always will
be to replace it with false one.
The first thing we need in this coun.
try, as President Roosevelt SO well set
forth in that great message which told
what he had been trying to do for
the American people, is equality Of OPP
portunity for every citizen. No man
should have less, and no man ought to
ask for euy more. Equality of oppor-
tunity is the real object of our laws
and institutions. Our institutions and
our laws are not valuable in them
selves. They are valuable only be.
cause they secure equality of oppor-
tunity for happiness and welfare for
our citizens. An institution or a law
is a means, not an end, means to
be used for the public good, to be
modified for the public good, and tc
b. interpreted for the public good. One
| of the great reasons why President
Roosevelt administration was of suct
enormous value to the plain American
was that he understood what st. Pan
meant when he said: "The lettel
lsilleth, but the spirit giveth, life" T,
fellow blindly the letter of the law
or the form of an institution, without
intelligent regard both for its spiri
and for the public welfare, is very
nearly as dangerous as to disregard
the law altogether. What we need il
the use of the law for the public
good, and tie construction of it fol
the public welfare.
II goes without saying that the Law
is supreme and must be obeyed. Gu
civilization rests on obedience to law
But the law is not absolute. 1t re
quires to be construed. Rigid con
struction Of the law works, and mus
work, in the vast majority of cases
for the benefit of the men who car
hire the best lawyers and who hav,
the sources of influence in lawmalsinj
a, theie command. Strict construction
necessarily favors the great interest
as against the people, and in the loni
run can not do otherwise. Wise ex
ocution of the law must consider wha
the law ought 20 accomplish for tn
general good. The great oppressiv
trusts exist because of subservient law
makers and adroit legal constructions
Here Is the central stronghold of tn