The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1913-03-05
But we were very needless and in d
hurry tn be graat

nuE We were very needless and In q
hurry to be great.
We have come now to the sober Sec
ond thought. The scales OF needless
ness have fallen from our eyes. We
have made up our minds to square ev-
cry process of our national life again
with the standards we no proudly set
up at the beginning and have always
carried ut our hearts. Our work ia q
work of restoration.
Things to Be Accomplished.
We have itemized with some degree
Df particularly the things that ought
to be altered and here are some of the
chief items: A tariff which cuts us or
from our proper part In the commerce
or the world. violates the just princI-
pies Of taxation and makes the govern
ment facile instrument In the hands
OF private interests; u banking and cur
rency system based upon the necessity
or the government to sell Its bonds fifty
years ago and perfectly adapted to con-
centrattng cash and restricting credits:
an industrial system which. take 1t on
all Its sides. financial as well as ad-
ministrative, holds capital In leading
strings. restricts the liberties and linn
Its the opportunities Of labor and ex-
pioits without renewing or conserving
the natural resources Of the country: q
body OF agricultural activities never
yet given the efficiency OF great busi-
ness undertakings or served as 1t
should be through the instrumentality
OF science taken directly to the farm
or Afforded the facilities of credit best
suited to its practical needs; water
courses undeveloped, waste places un.
reclaimed forests untended, fast dis
appearing without plan or prospect OF
renewal. unregarded waste heaps at
every mine. We have studied as per-
haps no other nation has the most ef-
fective means OF production, but we
have not studied cost or economy as
we should either as organizers OF in
dustry, as statesmen or as individuals
Sooiety's Duty to Itself.
Nor have we studied and perfected
the means by which government may
be put ut the service OF humanity In
safeguarding the health OF the nation,
the health Of It's men and its women
and its children, us 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 children be
not shielded I'm their lives. their very
vitality. from the consequences OF great
Industrial and social processes which
cope with. Society must see to it that
1t does not itself crush or weaken or
damage It's own constituent parts. The
hrSt duty Of law is to keep sound the
society 1T serves. Sanitary laws, pure
food laws and laws determining con-
ditions OF labor which individuals are
powerless to determine for themselves
are intimate parts of the very busi
ness OF justice and legal efficiency
These are some of the things we
ought to do aud not leave the others
undone, the old fashioned. never to be
neglected. fundamental safeguarding
OF property and of individual right |
lhiS Is the high enterprise of the new
day: To lift everything that concerns
our life aS n nation to the light that
shines from the hearth fire of every
mans conscience and vision OF the
right 1t Is inconceivable we should do |
this as partisans; 1t is inconceivable we
should do it in ignorance OF the facts
as they are or in blind haste. We shall |
restore not destroy. We shall deal
with our economic system as it Is and |
as 1t may be modified. not as 1t might |
be If we had clean sheet OF paper |
to write upon, and step by step we
shall make 1t what it should be in the |
spirit Of those who question their
own wisdom and seek counsel and |
knowledge, not shallow self sauSfac.
ton or the excitement OF excursions
whittier they cannot tell. Justice. and |
only Justice. shall always be our motto |
Task Not Merely Ono Of Politics.
And yet 1t will be no cool process of |
mere science. The nation has been
deeply stirred-stirred by solemn pas.
sion, stirred by the knowledge of
wrong. OF ideals lost. OF government
too often debanched and made an in
strument of evil. The feelings with |
which we face this new age OF right |
and opportunity sweep across our
heartStrings like some air out of Gods |
own presence. where justice and mercy
are reconcied and the judge and the
brother are one. we know our task to |
be no mere task OF politics. but task
which shall search us through and
through, whether we be able to under.
stand our time and the need Of our