The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-03-07

out for themselves. We had not for
gotten our morals. We remembered
well enough that we had set up a
policy which was meant to serve the
humblest as well as the most power
full, with an eye single to the stand
ards Of justice and fair play, and re-
membered it with pride. But we were
very needless and in a hurry TO be
great.
Things 70 BE Altered.
We have come now to the sober
second thought. The scales Of heed
lessDess have fallen from our eyes.
We have made up our minds to square
every process of our national life
again with the standards we so proud
ly set up at the beginning and have
always carried at our hearts. Our
work is work OF restoration.
We have itemized with some degree
of particularly the things that ought
to be altered and here are some OF
the chief items: A tariff which cuts
rs OF from our proper part in the
commerce Of the world. violates the
Just principles OF taxation. and makes
the hands OF private interests; bank
ing and currency system based upon
the necessity OF the government TO
sell it's bonds fifty years ago and per-
fectly adapted to concentrating cash
and restricting credits; an industrial
| system which, take it on all it's sides.
| financial as well as administrative,
holds capital in leading strings, re-
stricts the liberties and limits the OPP
portunities of labor, and exploits with
out renewing or conserving the nat
ural resources of the country; body
of agricultural activities never yet
/ given the efficiency Of great business
undertakings or served as it should be
through the fundamentally of science
taken directly TO the farm, or afforded
the facilities of credit best suited TO
| its practical needs; water courses un-
developed, waste places unreciaimed
forests INTENDED, fast disappearing
without plan or prospect OF renewal.
unregarded waste heaps al every mine.
We have studied as perhaps no other
nation has the most effective means
OF production, but we have not studied
cost or economy as we should either
as organizers Of industry, as states
men, or as individuals.
Government for Humanity.
Nor have we studied and perfected
the means by which government may
|, be put at the service of humanity. in
safeguarding the health Of the nation.
the health of its men and its women
| and its children, as well as their rights
in the struggle for existence. This is
no sentimental duty. The firm basis
| OF government is justice, not pity.
These are matters of justice. There
can be no equality or opportunity. the
first essential OF justice in the body
/ polite, if men and women and chill
dren be not shielded in their lives,
t their very vitality. from the conse-
' quences of great industrial and social
! processes which they cannot alter,
d control, or singly cope with. Society
s must see to it that it does not itself
[ crush or weaken or damage its own
! constituent parts. The first duty OF
$ law is TO keep sound the society il
serves. Sanitary laws, pure food laws,
n labor which individuals are powerless
e TO determine for themselves are init
d mate parts Of the very business OF jus
5 tice and legal efficiency.
? These are some of the things We
Il ought to do, and not leave the Others
). undone, the old-fashioned, never-to-be
T. neglected, fundamental safeguarding
p of property and of individual right
r This is the high enterprise of the new
n day; TO lift everything that concern:
Il our life as nation to the light tina
d shines from the hearthfre Of ever
" mans conscience and vision of tbs
u right II is inconceivable that We
should do this as partisans; it is in
conceivable we should do it in ignor
le ance of the facts as they are or il
N blind haste. We shall restore, not de
n stroy. We shall deal with our econ
n omic system as it Is and as 1t ma,
1t be modified, not as 1t might be If VI
to had a clean sheet of paper to writ
a. upon; and step by step We shall max
n. it what it should be. in the spirit o
ss those who question their own wisdom
il. and seek counsel and knowledge, no
II. shallow dissatisfaction or the excite
of ment of excursions whittier they car
Ee not tell. Justice, and only justice
It shall always be our motto.
II Nation Deeply Stirred.
y. And yet it will be no cool process
r. of mere science The nation has bee
he deeply stirred, stirred by a solem
IN passion, stirred by the knowledge c
of wrong, OF ideals lost, Of goyernmer
rs too often debauched and made an il
II strument OF evil. The feelings wit
he which we face this new age of rigt
Il. and opportunity sweep across on
,e. heart-strings like some air out {
re Gods own presence. where justice an
a. mercy are reconciled and the judg
n and the brother are one We kno'
gs our task to be no mere task OF polite
ok but q task which shall search U