Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-02

mobilize our resources alike OF brains
and OF materials.
at is not a future to be afraid Of.
IL is, rather. future to stimulate ana
excite us to the display OF the best
powers that arc in us. We may enter
It with confidence when we are sure
that we understand it-and we have
provided ourselves already with the
means Of understanding 1t.
Look first at what 1t will be neces-
sary that the nations of the world
should do to make the days to come
tolerable and fit to live and work in; ;
and then look at our part in what Is
to follow and our own duty of prepar'
alton. For we must be prepared both
in resources and in policy.
There must be a just and settled
peace and we here in America must
contribute the full force of our en-
thusiasm and OF our authority as "a
nation to the organization or that
peace upon worldwide foundations
that cannot easily be shaken. No ma
ton should be forced to take sides in
any quarrel in which its own honor
and integrity and the fortunes of its
own people are not involved; but no
nation can any longer remain neutral
as against any wilful disturbance of
the peace of the world The effects of
war can no longer be confined to the
areas of battle. No nation stands Who'll
ly apart in interest when the life and
interests of all nations are thrown in =
to confusion and peril. If hopeful and
generous enterprise is to be renewed,
if the healing and helpful arts of lille
are indeed to be revived when peace
comes again, a new atmosphere or
justice and friendship must be gener-
ated by means the world has never
tried before. The nations of the world
must unite in joint guarantees that
whatever is done to disturb the whole
worlds life must first be tested in the
court of the whole worlds opinion be-
fore it is attempted. 90.
These are the new foundations the
world must build for itself, and We
must play our part in the reconstruc-
ton. generously and without too much
thought of our separate interests. We
must make ourselves ready to play 1t
inteIligently, vigorously and well.
"One of the contributions we must
make to the worlds peace is this: We
must see to it that the people in our
insuIar possessions are treated il
their own lands as we would treat
them here, and make the rule of the
United States the same thing every
where-the same justice, the same
consideration for the essential rights
of men.
Besides contributing DIR lngrudginG
moral and practical support to the es-
adjustment OF peace throughout the
world we must actively and intell;-
gently prepare ourselves to do our
full service in the trade and industry
which are to sustain and develop the
life of the nations in the days to
come.
I'VE have already been provided in
this great matter and supplied our
selves with the instrumentalities -:
prompt adjustment We have created,
in the federal trade commission, d
means of inquiry and of accommoda-
ton in the field of commerce which
ought both TO coordinate the enter
prises of our traders and manufactur-
ers and to remove the barriers OF mis-
understanding and of too technical
Interpretation of the law. In the new
tariff commission we have added an
other fundamentally of observation
and adjustment which promises to be
Immediately serviceable. The trade
commission substitutes counsel and
accommodation for the harsher pro-
cesses of legal restraint, and the tar
if commission ought to substitute
facts for prejudiceS and theories. Our
exporters have for some time had the
advantage of working in the new lighG
thrown upon foreign markets and OPP
portunities of trade by the intelligent
injuries and activities of the bureau
of foreign and domestic commerce
which the democratic congress so
wisely created in 1912. The tariff conf
mission completes the machinery by
which we shall be enabled to open up
our legislative policy to the facts as
they develop.
I'VE can no longer indulge our ira
ditional provincialism. We are TO play
a leading part in the world drama
whether we wish it or not. We shall
lend, not borrow; act for ourselves,
not initiate or follow: organize and
initiate, not peep about merely TO see
where we may get in.
I'VE have already formulated and
agreed upon a policy of law which Will
explicitly remove the ban now sup
posed to rest upon cooperation
amongst our exporters in seeking and
securing their proper place IN the
markets of the world. The field Will be
free. the instrumentalitteS at hand. IL
will only remain for the masters or
enterprise amongst us TO act in cner-
getfc concert, and for the government
of the United States TO insist upon the
maintenance throughout the world
of those conditions OF fairness
and of even-handed justice IN
the commercial dealings of the nations
with one another upon which, after all,
in the last analysis, the peace and or
dered life of the world must ultimate
ly depend.
For Settled Conditions.
"At home also we must see 10 IL that
the men who plan and develop and di-
rect our business enterprises shall
enjoy definite and settled conditions or
law, a policy accommodated to the
freest progress. We have set the Just
and necessary limits. We have put all
kinds of unfair competition under the
ban and penalty OF the law. We have
barred monopoly. These fatal and ugly