

And State Papers 175 



Before speaking, however, of what can be done 

 by way of remedy let me say a word or two as 

 to certain proposed remedies which, in my judgment, 

 would be ineffective or mischievous. The first thing 

 to remember is that if we are to accomplish any 

 good at all it must be by resolutely keeping in mind 

 the intention to do away with any evils in the con 

 duct of big corporations, while steadfastly refusing 

 to assent to indiscriminate assault upon all forms 

 of corporate capital as such. The line of demar 

 cation we draw must always be on conduct, not upon 

 wealth ; our objection to any given corporation must 

 be, not that it is big, but that it behaves badly. 

 Perfectly simple again, my friends, but not always 

 heeded by some of those who would strive to teach 

 us how to act toward big corporations. Treat the 

 head of the corporation as you would treat all other 

 men. If he does well stand by him. You will oc 

 casionally find the head of a big corporation who 

 objects to that treatment; very good, apply it all 

 the more carefully. Remember, after all, that he 

 who objects because he is the head of a big corpora 

 tion to being treated like any one else is only guilty 

 of the same sin as the man who wishes him treated 

 worse than any one else because he is the head of a 

 big corporation. Demagogic denunciation of wealth 

 is never wholesome and is generally dangerous; 

 and not a few of the proposed methods of curbing 

 the trusts are dangerous chiefly because all insincere 

 advocacy of the impossible is dangerous. It is an 

 unhealthy thing for a community when the appeal 



9 VOL. XIII. 



