The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-04-08

ne. we tluSt 8UniiSQ everything tna
bears even the srnp!nnre of pIiviie;s,
Or of any kind Of artificial advantage
and put our business men and pro
cucers under the stimulation of con
stant necessity 10 be efficient. econom-
tcal and enterprising. masters of COM
petitive supremacy. better workers and
merchants than any In the world.
Aside from the duties laid upon arti-
cles which we do not and probably
cannot produce. therefore. and the
duties laid upon iuxurips and merely
for the sake of the revenues they yield.
the object of the tariff duties hence
forth laid must be effective competi-
ton. the whetting of American wits by
contest with the wits of the rest Of the
world.
1t would be unwise to move toward
this end headlOng. with reckless haste
or with strokes that cut at the very
rOOts Of what has grown mp among
US by long process and ut our own In
vitation. 1t does not alter a thing to
upset 1t and break 1t and deprive 1t Of
q chance to change. 1t destroys It.
We must make changes In our fiscal
laws. In our fiscal system. whose OBJ.
ject is development. a more free and
wholesome development, not revolution
or upset or confusion. We must build
up trade. especially foreign trade. We
need the outlet and the enlarged field
Of energy more than we ever did be-
fore. We must build up industry as
well and must adopt freedom in the
place Of artificial stimulation only SO
far as it will build. not pull down. In
dealing with the tariff the method by
which this may be done will be a mat
ter Of Judgment. exercised item by
item. To some not accustomed to the
excitements and responsibilities Of
greater freedom our methods may In
some respects and at some points seem
heroic. but remedies may be heroic
and yet be remedies. It Is our busi-
ness to make sure that they are genu.
inc remedies. Our object Is clear. II
our motive u above just challenge
and only an occasional error OF judg-
ment is chargeable against US we shall
be fortunate.
Thorough, but Moderate.
We are called upon to render the
country q great service In more mat
ters than one Our responsibility
should be met. and our methods should
be thorough. as thorough as moderate
and we'll considered. based upon the
facts as they are. and not worked out
as II we. were beginners. We are to
deal with the facts Of our own day.
with the facts of NO other. and to make
laws which square with those facts.
1t is best-indeed. 1t is necessary-tO
begin with the tariff. ] will urge moth
ing upon you now at the opening OF
your session which can obscure that
flrst object or divert our energies from
that clearly defined duty. At later
dme may take the liberty of calling
your attention to reforms which should
press close upon the heels Of the tariff
changes, II not accompany them. Of
which the chief IN the reform Of our
banking and currency laws. but Just
now refrain. For the present put
these matters ON one side and think
only Of this one thing-Of the changes
In our fiscal system which may best
serve to open once more the free chan
uels Ut prosperity to q great people
whom we would serve to the utmost
and throughout both rank and 6le.
WOODROW WILSON.
The White House. April &. 1913