The Washington times., 1911-08-08
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our war of the rebellion American busi-
ness men seem to have taken keen In
| terest in public life and affairs. Mer-
chants were governors of States, may
ors of cities, members of State Legis-
latures and Of our National Congress.
The close of the war seems TO nave
seen diminution in this practice
and we have seen less and less or such
men in the public service; and while
many of our public servants In recent
years have been broad-minded states
men, we find our city governments, our
Legislatures, our Congress, TO a con-
siderable extent composed of men haV-
ing no business training or experience
men who have made a profession OF
public life-men who have sought the
job rather than, as in olden times, hav-
ing been called to take public office as
public duty.
Why this mighty change? Because
with the close of that awful war the
best minds, the best sinew of this coun-
try, said, Now we have settled by two
great wars three great Fundamental
questions, viz, freedom from foreign
rule, freedom from slavery, and estaD-
lished the principle that there is to be
but one central government In TINS
country, and we are now free 10 pursue
commerce." and these men, with almost
one accord, proceeded to pursue COM
merce as ii never had been pursued pc
fore. The whole mighty force that mao
seen that It must first be free from 1or-
eign rule, even II II fought and dled Ior
II, and later had seen that IL must pre-
serve the Union and throw on the yohe
Of slavery, even If 1t fought and uieu
for It, saw the vast commercial possl-
bilities opening up before a 1ree pe0ple,
in a free land, under one centraHzed
government, and they threw themselves
into their new struggle as determlnedly
as they had done in the others. IN
ventors Wed with one another to aid in
the work; railroads were pushed to the
furthermost points of our land; great
business risks were taken; panics OF
disa strous and far-reaching nature fol-
lowed tust as reverSeS had occurred IN
the two great wars; but the sons or
those warriors knew not defeat, and
pushed on. If one plan did not succeed,
another would. Once given goal that
IS honestly worth striving for, American
men may die, but they will never sur
render. Politics, local and national,
were turned over to others to handle.
The great business period had arrived,
and 1t attracted our great master minds
as the field offering the greatest OBJ
stacles to overcome and the greatest
achievements to accomplish. And these
men were the sons of the men who
threw perfectly good tea into Boston
harbor. and broke an old, antiquated
men who gave freedom to slaves, and
broke an old, antiquated law. at least
of precedent and practice-when they
did that; and they did both in order to
make a better law, that would be
abreast Of a newer civilization and be
more just to more people.
Here Troubles Started.
After thirty years OF this commercial
upbuilding by these giant sons Of giant
minds, and thirty years or neglect OF
public duties and questions. these men
found themselves with our business
world full of master minds ard Olir
political world full of politicians. We
we've at peaCC with the outside world
and among ourselves. By leaps and
I.ounds, with the inventors help. we
were becoming at least a formidable
rival in the worlds commerce. We
were growing rich in ability, in trade.
in mCnev Here our new troubles be-
gan. The fabuIously rapid growth of
our business staggered the people, and,
in place of investigating to ma the real
causes that had brought about such re-
suits, our politicians, by tae passage OF
the Sherman act, declared war on the
business methods being adopted by lhe
business men of this country. In the
struggle that has been going Oh botn
SIDES nave GTTGu, dS Tllen JAdNS III tltI
wars, but now that our Supreme Court
has said that we, "a a people, are enu-
tied TO proceed in the light of reason.
does it not behoove US all to lay down
our arms and enter the reconstruction
period?
in the heated discussions of late years
we have heard a great deal about our
Constitution and something OF the
Declaration of Independence. Both have
Ir.uuently been referred to by pohu-
Gins who have felt it their duty TO
constantly remind the people Gf TIER
rights under these two historic docu-
ments and call attention to the high
moral purposes of the men who drafted
them. ,
The very first clause of the Declara-
tion of Independence proclaims: When
in the course of human events 1t be-
comes necessary" etc.
The very first clause of the Constitu-
lion proClaims: I'VE, the people Of the
United States, in order to form more
nerfeCt union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity'
do" etc.
In an address 1 made at Atlanta, Ga,
before the Southern Commercial Con-
gress last spring l think | pointed out
the reasons why the business men OF