Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-08-15
s'1''''' '0'''i Wilson'S Il SPEECH.


and conscience Of a people deeply
stirred by the conviction that
they have come 10 q critical
turning point in their moral and
political Development.
Plainly it is new age. 1t re
uuires self restraint not TO at
tempt too much, and yet il
would be cowa-dly to attempt
too little, in the broad light of
this new day. We stand face to
face with what? Plainly, not
with questions of party, not with
a contest for Office, not with a
petty struggle for advantage.
With great questions of right
and of justice.
There are two great things to
do. One is to set up the rule OF
justice and of right in such mat
ters as the tariff, the regulation
of the trusts and the prevention
Oh monopoly. The othes, the ad.
ditional duty, is the great task
of protecting our people and our
resources and of keeping open to
the whole people the doors of OPP
portunity through which they
must, generation by generation,
pass if they are to make con
quest of their fortunes in health,
in freedom, in peace, and in con
tentment.
The tariff question, as dealt
with in our time at any rate has
not been business. 1t has been
politics. Tariff schedules have
been made up for the purpose OF
keeping as large a number as
possible of the rich and inhuen
tial manufacturers of the coun-
try in a good humor with the
Republican party which desired
their constant financial support.
When we act we should act
with caution and prudence, like
men who knew what they are
about, and like those in love with
theory. There should be an
immediate revision and it should
be downward. unhesitatingly
and steadily downward.
No group of directors, econo-
mic or political, can speak for a
people. They have neither the
point of view nor the knowledge.
Our difficulty is not that wicked
and designing men have plotted
against us, :but that our common
affairs have been determined up
on too narrow a view, and by
too private an Indicative. Our
task now is to affect great re-
adjustment and get the forces OF
the whole people once more into
play. We need no revolution;
we need no excited change; we
need only anew point of view
and new method and spirit OF
counsel. The forces of the ma
ton are asserting themselves
against every form of specia
privilege and private control
and are, seeking bigger things
than they have ever heretofore
achieved.
The working people of Ameri
ca-if they must be distin
lguished from the minority thai
constitutes the rest of it-are, o.
course, the backbone of the ma
ton. No law that safeguards
their life, that improved tn,
physical and moral conditions
under which they live, tina
makes their hours Of labor IA
tional and tolerable, that gives
them freedom to act in their owl
interests, and that protects then
where they cannot protect them
selves.
In dealing with the Phillip
pines, we should not allow our
SSi'cS W SOdIlu upol any MERE
point Of pride. We are not the
owners of the Philippines Is
lands. We hold them in trust
for the people who live in them
They are theirs for the uses OF
their life. We are not even thei,
partners. 1t is our duty, as
trustees, to make whatever ar,
rangement of government will
be most serviceable to their
freedom and development t
Here again We are set up to the
rule of justice and right,
A presidential campaign may
easily degenerate into a mere
personal contest and so lose its
real dignity and significance
There is no indispensable man
The government will not col
lapse and go to piecies if any one
OF the gentleman who are asking
to be intrusted with its guild
ance should be left at home.
-------y -~-~-vrrs'sHa-----
The Progressive" Party.