Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-05

what the facts are and to face them
! with candor. I have heard great
many facts stated about the present
business conditions in this country, for
example, a great many allegations of
facts at any rate, and it is strange
! that these facts as stated do not tally
with each other.
Now the truth always matches the
truth. and when l find gentleman in
sisting that everything is going
wrong when 1t Is demonstrable that
most things are going right. I wonder
what they are trying to do. Are they
trying to serve something smaller
than the country? Are they trying to
put hope into the hearts of men who
work and toll every day, or rather are
they putting discoura cement and
despair into these hearts? If they love
America and tnything is wrong, it is
their duty to put their hands to the
task of setting it right. And when
the facts are known and acknowledged
the duty of all patriotic men Is to
accept them in candor and address
themselves to common counsel and to
work in harmony and universal con-
cert.
Refers to Experiences.
1 have had some experiences in the
last fourteen months which have not
been entirely refreshing. 1t was univer-
sally admitted that the banking system
of this country needed reorganization
We set the best minds We could find
to the task of discovering the best
method of reorganization. We met with
hardly anything but criticism from the
bankers of this country. We met with
hardly anything but resistance from the
bankers of this country, or at least from
the majority of those who said any
thing. And yet, just so soon as that
act was passed on the very next day
there was a universal chorus of ap-
plause from the bankers of the United
States Now If it was wrong the day before
1t was passed. why was it right the day
after. ii was passed? Where had been
the candor of criticism by the concert
of counsel which makes a great nation
successful? IL is not patriotic to con-
cert measures against one another; it is
patriotic to concert measures for one an
other.
Nations Independence.
You know the Declaration Of indie
pendence has in one sense lost its signif-
canoe. Nobody believed We could be indie
pendent when that document was writ
ten. Now nobody would dare to doubt
We are Independent. AS a Declaration
of Independence it Is mere historic doc
ument- The independence is a fact so
stupendous that 1t can be measured only
by the size. energy. ability, wealth and
power OF one of the greatest nations of
the world. But it is one thing to be in
dependent and 1t Is another thing to
know what to do with your independence
1t is one thing to come to your majority
and another thing to know what you are
going to do with your life and your
energies. One OF the most serious ques-
tons for sober-minded men to address
themselves to in these United States Is
what are we going to do with the in
fiuenoe and power of this great nation?
A
that power for our own ACKNOWLEDGMENT
and material benefit? You know what
that means. That means we shall use
it to make the people Of other nations
suffer in the way in which We said 1t
was intolerable to suffer when we uttered
the Declaration of Independence
THE Department of State of the United
states is constantly called upon to back
up commercial enterprises and the In
dustrial enterprises OF the United States
and in foreign countries: and 1t at one
time went so far In that direction that
all its diplomacy was designated as dol
every man who wanted to earn anything
anywhere If he was an American.
For Trade Extension.
Now. there is limit to that There
is no man more interested than 1 am in
carrying the enterprises of the United
States all over the world. 1 was interest
ed in it long before 1 was sus-
pected Of being politician. 1
have been preaching it year upon year
as the great thing which lay in the fu-
wit. skill. enterprise and influence in
every country of the world. But there
is limit to that which has laid upon us
more than any other nation in the
world. We set up this nation and we
of man. We did not name any differences
between one race and another; we did
not set up any barriers against any par
ticular race or people but opened our
gates to the world. and said all men who
wish to DE free come to us and they will
be welcome. We said this independence
is not merely for us--a selfish thing for
our own private use-but for everybody
10 whom we can find the means Of ex-
tending IT.
Now we cannot. with that oath taken
in our youth: We cannot with that great
idea set before us when we were young
people. and practically only a scant three
million people. take upon ourselves, now
that are a hundred million. any other
conception of duty than what we enter
tanned at that time
Wants No Imposition.
countries. PARTICULARLY in those foreign
countries which are not strong enough to
resist us. takes the shape of imposing
pie in that country, It ought to be put
TO stop, not encouraged
II am willing to get anything for an
American that money can buy except the
rights of other men. ! win not help any
man buy power he should not exercise
over his fellow being.
You know what a big question there
is in Mexico. Eighty-five per cent OF
the Mexican people have never been al
lowed to have a look-in in regard to
their government, and the rights which
have been exercised by the other Is
per cent. Do you suppose that circum-
stance Is not sometimes in my thought!
know that the American people have
a heart that will beat just as strong
for those millions in Mexico as it Will
beat for any other millions anywhere
else in the world. and when they once
know what is at stake In Mexico they
will know what ought to be done in
Mexico.
You hear a great deal stated about
the property loss in Mexico. and l de-
plore il with all my heart Upon the
conclusion OF the present disturbed
who have lost properties ought to be
compensated.
Would Consider Rights.
Mans individual rights have met
with many deplorable circumstances.
but back of it all is the struggle of
the people, and while we think of the
one in the foreground let us not for
get the other in the background. Every