The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-12-17

Gentlemen of the congress: Ihe
session upon which you are now en-
tering will be the closing session OF
the 63rd congress, congress, l VEN
ture to say, which will long be re-
membered for the great body OF
thoughtful and constructive work
which it has done, in loyal response
to the thought and needs OF the
country. | should like in this ad-
dress to review the notable record
and try to make adequate assess
ment of it, but no doubt We stand
too near the work that has been
done and are ourselves too much a
part of it to play the part of his
torians toward it.
Our programme of legislation with
regard to the regulation of business
is now virtually complete. 1t has
been put forth as We intended, as
whole, and leaves no conjecture as to
what is to follow. The road at last
lies clear and firm before business.
It is a road which it can travel with
out fear or embarrassment. 1t is
the road to ungrudged, uncloudeo
success. In it every honest man.
every man who believes that the
public interest is part of his own in
terest. may walk with perfect con-
fidence.
Moreover, our thoughts are now
more of the future than of the past.
While We have worked at our tasks
of peace the circumstances Of the
whole age have been altered by war.
What we have done for our own land
and our own people we did with the
best that was in US, whether OF char
acter or intelligence, with sober en-
thusiasm and a confidence in the
principles upon which we were act
ing, which sustained US at every
step of the difficult undertaking, but
if is done. 1t has passed from our
hands. 1t is now an established part
of the legislation of the country. It's
usefulness, it's effects will disclose
themselves in experience. what
chiefly strikes US now, as we look
about US during these closing days
of a year which will be forever mem
orable in the history Of the world,
is that we face new tasks, have been
facing them these six months. must
face them in the months to come
face them without partisan feeling,
like men who have forgotten every
thing but a common duty and the
fact that we are representatives OF
a great people, whose thought is not
of US, but what America owes to
herself and to all mankind in such
circumstances as these upon which
we look amazed and anxious.
Effects of European War.
War has interrupted the means Of
trade not only, but also the processes
of production. In Europe it is de-
stroying men and resources whole
sale and upon a scale unprecedented
and appalling. There is reason to
fear that the time is near, If it be
not already at hand, when several
of the countries of Europe will find
it difficult to do for their people
what they have hitherto been always
easily able to do-many essential
and fundamental things. At any
rate, they will need our help and our
manifold services as they have never
needed them before, and we should
be ready, more fit and ready than
we have ever been.
1t is of equal consequence that the
nations whom Europe has usually
supplied with innumerable articles
of manufacture and commerce, OF
which they are in constant need and
without which their economic de-
yelopment halts and stands still, can
now get only small part of what
they formerly imported and eagerly
look to us to supply their all but emp
ty markets. This is particularly true
of our own neighbors, the States,
great and small, of Central and
South America. Their lines of trade
have hitherto run chiefly athwart
the seas. not to our ports but
to ports of Great Britain and OF the
older continent of Europe. l do not
stop to inquire why, or to make any
comment on probable causes. What
interests US just now is not the eX-
planation, but the fact, and our duty
and opportunity in the presence OF II.
Here are markets which we must
supply, and We must find the means
of action. The United States, this
great people for whom we speak and
act, should be ready, as never be-
fore. to serve itself and to serve