The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-24
A MODEL MESSAGE.

a MODEL MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Congress, SINGER
lty has no more obvious function
and patriotism no clearer duty than
70 mesde from positions taken in good
Nth but with imperfect understand
Ing. I therefore beg you to permit
~, before entering upon the con-
sideration Of these great questions Of
obstructive legislation which the
efate Of the Union and the state Of
the world force upon us, to withdraw
from the record and to eliminate from
your minds the greater part Of the
Recommendations and exhortations
which I addressed to the Senators and
Representatives Of the sixty-third
Coagroas at the opening Of the third
session Of that Congress. Just one
year ago.
And first OF all. and particularly,
the following remarks. which I now
ne to have been infelicitous in con-
coption and unfortunate in utterance:
The road at last lies clear and nrm
before b0sinere. II Is a road which II can
travel without fear or embarrassment. II
% ne road to ungrudged. unclouded sue
cesa In " every man who believes that
the public interest Is para OF his own In.
tsesst may walk with perfect confidence"
! withdraw this because I now per-
osive that the road before business
cannot lie clear and firm. leading to un-
clouded success. while the supervisory
powers Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. for instance. practically
extend TO the direct management of
railway finance through the fixing Of
Fatas by Affirmative action. / long ago
pointed out that the end Of such a sys-
tam Of governmental control can only
- Government ownership. I now
frankly return to that earlier and
0ounder view Of the relation Of our
Government to the nations railway
system. Likewise do I now perceive
and declare, as against all previous ex-
pressions Of mine on the subject, that
the road cannot lie clear and firm be-
fore business as long as business sees
stalking toward 1t down that road the
dread spectre Of Government COMPETE
tion with private initiative and en-
deavor. a. in the matter Of the ocean
carrying trade. Wipe out from your
minds those old dreams OF mine and
let u begin anew.
Secondly: I was wrong when l sug-
gssted to you a year ago that the
tari6 question was happily closed and
that tho tariff situation. as arranged
by the Wilson-U Underwood act, was
such as to enable us ito serve man.
kind and to serve greatly" in a CON-
mercial way. except only as We needed
the merchant ships which the Govern
ment ought to provide in order ITO
serve mankind and serve greatly, gen.
erously." I was as wrong in one re-
spect ~ In the other. In order to take
advantage Of the unprecedented OPP
p0rtunities which present conditions
offer to American manufacturing en-
terprise and industry. in order, also,
to meet without unusua and oppres-
sive taxation the now glaringly APP
parent deficiencies in the nations
revenue, an Intelligent revision Of the
tariff. In the interest not of mankind
but Of Americankind. is more neces-
eary now than at any previous time
In our economic history. Humbly
ant frankly ! admit the mistake and
call your attention to the fact-may
] not say to the main chance?
In the third place. and most i'm
portant Of all, a year ago ! told you
this. In deprecating the idea that the
nation had aught to fear from lack of
military or naval preparedness:
IT 10 said In some quarters thai we are
oot prepared for war. what ~ meant BY
being prepared? Is II meant that we are
not ready upon brief notice to put a ma
ton In the neld, a nation OF men trained
TO arms? OF course we are not ready "a
do that: and We never shall! be In time OF
psacs 20 long as W. retain our present
political principles and institutions. And
what 10 II hat IL IL suggested that we be
prepared 60 do? To defend ourselve.
against attack? We have always found
msans to do that. and shall ind them
Whenever II IL necessary. without calling
eur people away from their necessary
tashs to render compulsory military ser
vice IN time Of peace"
"Ths subject is not new. There IL nc
osV need to discuss II. We shall not alt r
our attitude toward II because some among
W. are nervous and excited. We shall
essiiy and senslbly agree upon a policy
Of dstsnce. The question has not changed
1s aspect because the times are not nor.
nal. . Let there be no misconcep-
tien. The country has been misinformed
We have not been negligent of national
Defence"
Expunge this too from your memo
RES, gentlemen Of the Senate and the
House Of Representatives. Since the
foregoing words were uttered by me
In this same place a twelvemonth ago
Q great light has been seen by the
country. and my own eyes have not
esaa blind. There Is new need to dis.