The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-24

properly represent them or pay to pro-
gressive ideas the kind of loyalty
which results in the translation of
words into actions. How fundamental
the dinerence is was shown BY, the
presidents selection of Lincoin's birth
day as an occasion for crtticising the
men who proclaim the shibbloeth of
the man before the dollar This criti-
cism was peculiarly infelicftous on
such an occasion for it was Lincoln
who ON April 8, 1859, wrote to the
Jefferson dinner committee of Boston.
saying that the, defenders of slavery
hold the liberty Of one man to be alb
solutely nothing when in conflict with
another mans right of property; re-
publicans, on the contrary, ask for
both, for the man and the dollar but in
case or conflict, the man before the
dollar Was Lincoln a demagogue
CONFLICTS FREQUENTLY ARISE.
In this country conflicts between
human rights and the rights of privi-
lege masquerading as property rights
do frequently arise and such conflicts
are occurring now. In these conflicts
we put the man above the dollar and
we are unaffected by the position OF
those who as we think unwisely sneer
at us for taking such a position We
| hear much talk today among the de-
tenders of privileges Of fear lest there
shall be conf1scation of private prop
erty to public use. AS g. matter Cd
| fact there is no danger Of such confls-
cation; the danger is precisely the OPP
posite. The danger is the appropria-
ton of public property to private use
with the connivance Of the lax or un-
! faithful trustees whom the people elect
| to protect their interest, these 'trus-
tees being that representative part OF
the people whom the president says
by right should govern the rest of the
people.
"State-made title to public property
| hlched with the ignorant or corrupt
acquiescance of the trustees In ques-
ton are made the instruments by
which real man-made property is
| taken from those who should have i.
so that a few of the people may be
permitted to use for their exclusive
benefit property which OF right should
| be used for the benefit OF all. We pro-
gressives have seen the wrong in this
and have pledged ourselves to it's I'M
| doing"
Col. Roosevelt reiterated his new ar
guments as TO the rikht of tho people
| to recall decisions Of state courts
1T is idle folly to say that this IL an
attack on our constitution system" he
| declared; ION the contrary 1t Is a pro-
posal to save our constitutional sys-
| tenn. The people OF this country viii
| not remain attached to the government
and the laws unless they are taken
| into the confidence of the man &c
whom they have delegated the man.
| agement of the government and un-
| less they know thaa they themselves
| ultimately decide how ythey can
| ultimately decide how they themselves
are to be governed.
Remember always" explained the
| colonel. that I am not speaking OF
\ ordinary cases of justice between man
and man. I am not asking that the
remedy be applied to the federal
courts. / am speaking only of the
powers that within the last century
have been assumed by American state
1 courts"
Asserting that movement for country
life betterment begun over four yeal
ago." has been practically abandon.
ed, Col. Roosevelt appealed for "ar
/ increase in the productive and dis
| tributional eficiancy of our farmers
The government cannot with wis.
dom longer remain supine in this mat.
| ter" he said. There must be an i'm.
mense increase in the productive and
Institutional efficiency Of our farm
| ers.
BY cooperation and by improve
ment in business methods generally =.
| we'll as by Improvement in the actua
work Of tilling the soil and in tn.
elimination Of useless middlemen 3
will, I am certain, be possible for tn,
farmer to get more out Of his farm
| than he at present gets"