The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-31

the Staunton people for their reception, but
whether his words We're improinpt or not there
can be no doubt that they came from the full
ness of his heart, and that the thought behind
them was deeply studied
The stanton inaugural carries a dual sug
gestion. One Is TO the country at large. the
other is 70 his own party. The governor, as he
smiltngly remarked. hasn't got his gun out for
anybody. but somebody might accidentally get
in the way Of the gun" Legitimate business
has no reason to fear anything from him, but
there are certain tests which everybody will
have to stand and certain standards to which
everybody will have to conform There must
be, In Governor Wilson's language, Quio pro
quo, public service to justify business or
a corporate profit. Business must render
service or get nothing and In the regulation
OF business the government must determine
whether what they are doing Is service or is
not service A large part too large part
Of the fortune-making OF recent decades has
consisted in getting something for nothing.
And. therefore. while i would be liberal in
interpreting the service want to proclaim for
regarded 1 by @ SCORERS a. g,tering and harm
less generality, but IL will turn out. We think,
precise and definite proposition, and we be-
eve that the administration will know
how to use this general formula to figure out
the answer to more than one pressing problem
Honest legitimate business is not going to get
in the way Of the governments gun; but un-
scrupulous promoters spectators and exploit
crs, the business poachers and confidence men
who Try to obtain something for nothing will
probably find that the gun has deadly aim
and that II Is no respecter of persons. 1T is
waiter of common knowledge that II is precisely
this class of so-caied business men who are
mainly responsible for unsatisfactory industrial
ana economic conditions, and whose methods
have caused popular discomfort They are the
only business people who need worry about
The attitude of the next administration, and
they need not worry II they reform, abandoning
financial piracy, and render quid pro quo In
tho peaceful channels of commerce and indus-
try.
The other part OF Governor Wilson's dis
course was addressed TO his own party, and II
hat when q
this:
II could pick out some gentlemen. not confined
to State, gentlemen likely to be associated
with the government spf the United states. who
have not vet had dawn upon their intelligence
what it Is that government Is set up to do
There are men who will have to be mastered in
order that they shall be made the instruments
OF Justice and of mercy.
Persons who have seen in the recent editorial
in the Commoner on congressional seniority
evidence Of desire on Mr.. Bryan's part 10 en-
barass the Democratic administration will now
have to revise their views. This utterance OF
Governor wilson's following closely on the
Commoner editorial, has the appearance of con-
cert Of action, and, at all events, 1t shows that
the general trend of their thought is in the
whole world. sis facing the future with new
attitude and public men who have not yet
had this fact dawn upon their tnteihgence
Will have to be mastered in order to make
them efficient instruments in the new era There
In no place In the Democratic ranks for per-
verse reacstionaries who refuse TO keep step with
the party. and Governor Wilson, says SO with
that smiling face and courteous manner which
make a thrust of his sort all the keener.
one point de demonstrated by this stanton trip
which the bad Indians of both business and
politics should note. Is that the great masses
Of the people earnestly, even enthusiast
calIy, behind Governor Wilson No president
has even had such a solid public backing as he
will have in his fight for reform. 1t will. there
fore be mighty poor policy for them to start
anything" and mighty good sense TO come oasA
into reservation without further nosice.-Balti-
more Sun.