The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-01


jwns porpctnated. Tho formative period
Included not merely the Revolutionary
war. but the creation and adoption OF
1.-The Constitution, and the first dozen
years OF work under II. Then came
sixty years, during which we spread
across the contincnt--yeers OF vital
growth, but of growth without rather
than growth within. Then came the
thine OF stress and strain. which cul-
A minated in the Civil Wharf.-The period
bof terrible struggle, upon the Issue OF
(which depended the justification Of all
that we had done earlier and which
marked the second great period OF
growth and development within. The
name OF John Brown Will be forever
iassociated with this second period OF
the nations history, and Kansas was
the theatre upon which the first act
of the second of our great national lie
dramas was played.
A Te then referred to the dark days
4 Of the Civil War and paid tribute to
the veterans OF the Grand Army OF
sthe Republic Continuing, he said
"of that generation OF men. to whom
Z we owe so much. the man to whom we
iowe the most is, of course Lincoln.
A 1aTp Oh our ueol 10 Hiih 10 peSuu'S A''
forecast our present struggle and saw
1.-THE way out.
Equality of Opportunity.
I'm every wise struggle for human
fbettcrment one of the main objects.
B and often the only object. has been to
achieve in larger measure equality OF
opportunity. I'm the struggle for thin
great end nations rise from harharisr
to civilization, and through 1t peo-
pies press forward from one stage of
enlightenment to the next One of the
chief factors in progress is the de-
struction of special privilege. The
essence of any struggle for healthy
liberty has always been. and must al
ways be, to take from some one man
or class of men the right to enjoy
power or wealth or position or imru-
nifty which has not been earned by
service to his or their fellows.
practical equality of oppor-
4tunity for all citizens, when
we achieve It, Will have two
great results. First, every man will
have fair chance to make of himself
all that in him lies--to reach the high.
sisted by special privilege of his own
and unhampered by the special privi-
leges of others, can carry him, and to
get for himself and his family SUBJ
stantially what he has earned. Sec
ond, equality of opportunity means
that the Commonwealth will get from
every citizen the highest service OF
which he is capable. No man who car
RES the burden of special privileges of
another can give to the Commonwealth
that service to which 1t is fairly enti-
tied.
stnnds for Square Dcnl.
c{a = al tN,,+
when l say that / am for the square
deal I mean not merely that l stand
for fair play undr the present rules
of the game but that stand for hav-
ing those rules changed so as to work
Tor more substantial equality of OPP
portunity and OF reward for equally
good service.
''This means that our governments
national and State, must be freed from
the sinister influence or control O.
special interests. Exactly as the spe
cial interests of cotton and SLAYER,
threatened our political integrity be
fore the Civil War, SO now the grea
special business interests too otter
control and corrupt the men and meth
DDS of government of their own profit
We must drive the special Interest,"
out of politics. That is one OF on
tasks to-day. Every special interes
IS entitled tor justice-full. fair an
complete-but not one is entitled to
vote in Congress, a voice on tn
bench, or to representation in any pub
lie Office. The Constitution guarantee
protection to property. an6 we mus
make that promise good. But 1t doe
not give the right of suffrage to an
corporation.
There can be no effective control @
corporations while their political acti
witty remains. To put an end to 1t vii
be neither a short nor an easy task
but 1t can be done.
We must have complete and effectiv
publicity of corporate affairs SO tina