620 Presidential Addresses 



possible, even more wicked, even more destructive 

 to national welfare, than sectional, race, or religious 

 animosity. We can get good government only upon 

 condition that we keep true to the principles upon 

 which this Nation was founded, and judge each man 

 not as a part of a class, but upon his individual mer- 

 its. All that we have a right to ask of any man, 

 rich or poor, whatever his creed, his occupation, his 

 birthplace, or his residence, is that he shall act well 

 and honorably by his neighbor and by his country. 

 We are neither for the rich man as such nor for the 

 poor man as such ; we are for the upright man, rich 

 or poor. So far as the constitutional powers of the 

 National Government touch these matters of general 

 and vital moment to the Nation, they should be exer- 

 cised in conformity with the principles above set 

 forth. 



It is earnestly hoped that a secretary of commerce 

 may be created, with a seat in the Cabinet. The 

 rapid multiplication of questions affecting labor and 

 capital, the growth and complexity of the organiza- 

 tions through which both labor and capital now find 

 expression, the steady tendency toward the employ- 

 ment of capital in huge corporations, and the 

 wonderful strides of this country toward leadership 

 in the international business world justify an urgent 

 demand for the creation of such a position. Sub- 

 stantially all the leading commercial bodies in this 

 country have united in requesting its creation. It 

 is desirable that some such measure as that which 



