Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-10


legislative and governmental action to de
prive corporate capital and undue vestet
privilege Of its political power. and t
mental control and regulation OF the US
of capital In legitimate avenues and 10
legitimate purposes.
In addition to the elimination OF the con
troll Of the undue influence OF corporate
wealth and privilege in our political an
matters. there is another wild
field for progressive action that the al
truistic tendencies of the age have dom
much to encourage and develop. Govern
ment is framed for the greatest good To-
the greatest number, and also for IN
greatest good of the individual and tn
problem presented is the balancing o
these two objects in such way that boil
may proceed side by side. The fulfill!
OF every socialistic scheme which de
stroys the right of property for the upli1
of humanity is that 1t Is impossible Z
find a sufficiently strong motive for laool
or for saving. Without this the wealth O.
the world could not increase tomeet TIT
demands for the living and comfort ant
increased physical happiness of the grow
Ing population.
But while we would not part with thu
right Of property, and while, possibly, II
certain directions we might be willing II
modify the character Of its use where II
case Of the antitrust law. what we are
all struggling for. what we all recognize
as the highest ideal in society, Is equality
Of opportunity for every member born IN
to it. OF course, perfect equality OF op-
portunity is Impossible. Some men are
born strong and some men weak; some
men with strong and some men with Zee.
BILE brains. But legislation can be and
ought to be directed to removing all the
artificial restraints and Instructions tna'
prevent this equality of opportunity
With. Jeffersonian Idea.
Under the Jeffersonian idea 1t was
thought that the least government OF
was the best. and that the more
nearly the functions of the government
we're confined to the administration OF
Justice and to the enforcement of law, the
better: but under present conditions OF
population and civilization. there are
many functions that the government car
more effectively and more economically
perform than private enterprise. and in
this way the individuals among the people
may derive greater benefit. The statu-
tory provision for the legislative dis.
charge of such functions by the govern.
ment is progressive.
The progressive movement has assumed
the character of a crusade. and many
radical remedies We're suggested, the car
rying out of which would only be less
destructive than the threatened fata
course Of the disease. There were many
who had long attacked our present in
situations as the basis of all injustice
and inequality, and their voice became
louder and more distinct and was listened
to with much greater favor than ever
before in the history of the country. The
growth of socialism In this country is q
incident in showing the ex-
- lab on IN h.
solution Of the problem which I am dis
cussing.
Progressive Extremists.
There were many who were not social
lists. but who saw in the present structure
Of our government, and especially in the
checks and balances intended by the
trainers of our Constitution to secure de-
liberation and calm action on the part OF
the people, a real obstruction to the re.
forms that were deemed necessary In
order to maintain the proper control OF
capital and corporate privilege by popular
will and to secure equality of opportunity
of this stripe attained a
great popular support. and were able. fol-
q time at least. to give the impression
that others who We're equally imbued
with the necessity for reform by legisla.
tive and governmental action, but who
thought it might come without destroying
the present structure of our government
and without affecting the guarantees OF
life. liberty and property, were reaction
airy and unsympathetic with the cause
Of the people. The bitterness of the at.
tacks which they made upon men in re-
sponsibie positions. the lack Of restraint
that they manifested in impeaching the
motives of men as high minded and as
honest as any of them. We're only symp-
toms of psychological situations that must
pass under the calming lapse of time as
the public came to view the situation with
common sense and spirit of fairness that
always prevail among the
American people.
Popular Government.
We all believe in popular government
The history of this country under the
Constitution. under which we have fought
three foreign wars and withstood the
shock Of the greatest civil war in history
and have still retained the blessings OF
the almost divine foresight of those who
framed the federal compact. 1t has shown
itself adapted to thirteen struggling
states. with a population of but three
millions of people. a century and a quar-
ter ago, and now to a stable government
continent.
l am aware of the exposure to criticism
to which the suggestion that the Amerl
can people may make mistakes by hasty
action and lack of elaboration will ex
pose one. l am aware of the ease witt
which such a suggestion can be tortured
into an expression of distrust in the
American people l am aware that a body
Of the people does not differ in certain
traits from the individuals who make il
as do individuals. 1 know that a whole
people does not any more than individ
uals enjoy having their own defects
pointed out to them.
The truth Is, though, that the man who
tells the people of the danger that may
arise from mistaken and hasty actor
pays q higher tribute to them than the
one who constantly fa~ns upon them as
IL they were incapable of error. The
most abiding compliment that can be
paid to the American people Is to point
to the fact that in the Constitution which
they framed and have maintained they
have recognized the danger of hasty &C
ton by themselves and have, In its checks
and balances. voluntarily maintained q
protection against it. The truth is thai
In this last century We have vindicateC
popular government in way that it has
never been INDICATED before. We have
taken from all the countries of the worlc
those who would come to us, seeking
either better conditions as to LIVELIHOOD
or better conditions as to government
seeking freedom and prosperity. We have
them In our citizenship anC
In our electorate: we have made them
americans and all under the same glori.
Gus Constitution that Washington signed
that Hamilton and Madison and Adams
and that wonderful galaxy Of American
formulated in day of small
things to grow into the ark of the cove.
nant.
Stands the Test of Time.
Distrust Of popular government! TIL,
xl,ox Ahu& L.