And State Papers 25 



remember that while it is difficult to increase pros 

 perity by law, it is easy enough to ruin it, and that 

 there is small satisfaction to the less prosperous if 

 they succeed in overthrowing both the more pros 

 perous and themselves in the crash of a common 

 disaster. 



Every industrial exposition of this type necessar 

 ily calls up the thought of the complex social and 

 economic questions which are involved in our pres 

 ent industrial system. Our astounding material 

 prosperity, the sweep and rush rather than the mere 

 march of our progressive material development, 

 have brought grave troubles in their train. We 

 can not afford to blink these troubles, any more 

 than because of them we can afford to accept as 

 true the gloomy forebodings of the prophets of evil. 

 There are great problems before us. They are not 

 insoluble, but they can be solved only if we ap 

 proach them in a spirit of resolute fearlessness, of 

 common-sense, and of honest intention to do fair 

 and equal justice to all men alike. We are certain 

 to fail if we adopt the policy of the demagogue 

 who raves against the wealth which is simply the 

 form of embodied thrift, foresight, and intelligence ; 

 who would shut the door of opportunity against 

 those whose energy we should especially foster, 

 by penalizing the qualities which tell for success. 

 Just as little can we afford to follow those who fear 

 to recognize injustice and to endeavor to cut it out 

 because the task is difficult or even if performed 

 by unskilful hands dangerous. 



