The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-04-14
MARSHALL WARNS
MEN OF WEALTH AND
ESPECIAL PRIVILEGE
Declares That a Change of
Spirit Has Come Over the
Republic = Speaks at
Democratic Club

Republic = Speaks at
Democratic Club
New York, April 13.-Nice President
Marshall served warning last night on
men of vast wealth and on special
privilege" that the temper of the Ameri-
can people had reached point where
1t no longer would brook oppression.
He told the members of the National
Democratic club that the spirit of I'M
rest was such that unless reckoned
with the Institutions of the government
might be jeopardized and the country
revert to paternalism or turn to social
ism.
Current opinion holds, justly or I'M
justly" he said. that the welfare of
the people of this country depends not
little upon the conduct of certain
men in this city of New York; I have
concluded. therefore, to beard the lion
in his den in the hope that he may
hear
Unknown Guests at Frugal Meal
Present advantage shuts our eyes to
Not what we are nor what we stand
for, but what we can make has come
to be the measure of governmental
duty and Individual conduct. And yet,
despite this theory of life, Carl Marx
and hunger and longing for happi-
ness are abroad in the land. They are
sitting as unknown guests at every
frugal meal. They are perturbing the
waking hours and coIoring the dreams
OF millions of Americans, who after
all, have the right to say what shall
or shall not be-"
The vice president declared his warn
ing was the result of observation of
conditions in 81 northern states dur
ing the recent presidential campaign.
Swollen fortunes and the accumulation
of great wealth through governmental
privileges granted. he held had much
to do with the discomfort
Along with general prosperity has
come marvellous piling up of colossal
private fortunes. Notwithstanding
charges against me that l have freely
assaulted the possessors of these for
tunes, l know in my own heart that
such view of my public utterances
is a mistaken one. My assaults, if [
at the possessors of the fortunes, but
at the principles of government which
contribute, directly or indirectly, to the
accumulation of fortunes. The piling
up of colossal fortunes, supplemented
by general diffusion of knowledge,
has made large bodies of people FESTIVE.
The Desire of the People
The desire of the people is for
greater equality of opportunity and en-
joyment. More and more, men are COM
ing to the belief that socialism alone
will open up and guarantee this equal
ity. II ! were the possessor of a vast
and growing fortune and had made up
my mind that the government should
continue to help me make it grow. or
II | were socialist I would frown
down upon the educational system of
America
Have backward looking and inward
looking men ever stopped to consider
what might happen to them here in
the great state of New York if those
have not should take 1t into their heads
10 make common cause against those
who have? They talk about vested
right and In their talks assume they
have both an inherent and constitu-
ttlonal right to pass their property down
from generation TO generation until
some reckless decendent shall have dis
sipated it. Suppose a governor and
general assembly in the state of New
York should repeal the statute of
descents for real and personal property
and the statute with reference to the
making of wills, on their death how
much vested interest would any reIa-
tive have in the property which fell
from their nervess hands at the hour
of dissolution? The right to inherit
and the right to devise are neither in
herent nor constitutional, but upon the
contrary, they are simply privileges
given by the state to its citizens
Present Situation
Let backward looking and inward
looking men read the returns of the last
election. Let them put on masks go
down into the Eastsde and hear what
people are saying about them Let them
not close their eyes and dream that what
has BEEN forever will ne. All that a
man hath will he give for this life and
he is not wise who. having plenty, risks
it all to get little more.
THE belief that there is an UNEQUAL
distribution of wealth In This country
has been supplemented by the belief that
special privilege, that it did not come
by labor, skin, industry, barter or trade.
but through watered stock and bonds
through corners on commodities, through
corruption of legislatures. through the
sale of impure foodstuffs through wreck
ing railroads. through all the devices
known to man whereby the law is not
abrogated but chloroforfned
Mr.. Marshall assailed the protective
tariff as one of the principal causes for
concentration of wealth and declared that
the protection of commodities had result
ed lin free trade in conscience
Change in Spirit
Let those who started he said ''and
are keeping up this theory of special
privilege which finds its root its sap and
vigor in prohibitive duties, believe me
when [ say that change has come across
the spirit of the republic. Be not de-
ceived Our justice is ceasing to be per-
pendicular and is beginning to be hori-
zontal. Men are refusing longer to look
up that favors may be handed down TO
them and are beginning to look around
and see how mutual benefits may come
10 them. Wake up. my brother; be CON
tented with that which thou hast gotten.
Yield a little that thou mayst save much
The backward looking and inward
looking men may be able temporarily
to check the onward movement of the
forward looking men. but II they do It
will be an unwise Interference and may
result either In a patefnalistic system
of government which can only endure
upon bases of Ignorance and serfdom OF
in socialistic system, which will de-
stroy both the opportunity and the de