EDITORIAL 293 



into lumbering, rather than into mining, country had undergone a "sea change, 

 railroading, merchandising, stock- into something new and strange." 

 speculating, or what-not, there seems Methods which were once winked at 

 absolutely nothing about the situation or applauded now raised grave ques- 

 to occasion comment. "Business is tions. Under the eloquence of Burke, 

 business." Men enter business to make Fox, Sheridan and Grey the Hastings 

 money. One way in which money has administration assumed an aspect wide- 

 been made and in which some will prob- ly different from that in which it had 

 ably still be made is by buying up at a hitherto been viewed, 

 low figure a tract of timberland, clear- Indications are not wanting that a 

 ing it, selling the timber, mineral rights, similar change in public opinion regard- 

 or anything else "thereunto appertain- ing the conduct of private business is 

 ing" and then, when the lemon has been in progress in the United States and 

 well squeezed, discarding it and seeking throughout the civilized world. It is 

 new worlds to conquer. This is what, probable that the Roosevelt administra- 

 in Europe, Asia, Africa and the isles tion will stand in history as the land- 

 of the sea, as well as in America, men mark indicating the beginning of this 

 "on the make" have been doing in in- change in the United States. We read- 

 creasing measure since the beginning ily remember the time when a "private 

 of our modern industrial era, say 200 business" was supposed to be a private 

 years ago. It is also quite in harmony concern pure and simple. The idea of 

 with the methods frequently employed, operating it with a regard for the pub- 

 in a measure at least under the forms lie well-being, or for the interests of 

 of law, by Roman provincial governors, posterity, was thought chimerical, senti- 

 who were assigned choice territory mental and unworthy of consideration 

 nominally to "administer" but, from by practical people. "Money" was the 

 their own standpoint if not from that one thing that "talked." and each was 

 of the public, to exploit and plunder, supposed to get money, honestly, if he 

 Had such a governor failed to improve could, but nevertheless, to get it. If, 

 his opportunities to make a fortune out in so doing, he manufactured plugged 

 of his office, and left something worth armor plate, sold goods infected with 

 while for his successor in the territory disease germs, "sweated" women and 

 assigned him, to say nothing of the children in factories, or ravished the 

 population presumably dependent for resources of a continent, it was the 

 their livings upon the resources of that affair of no one save those immediately 

 territory, he would, thereafter have concerned. Even the individuals in- 

 been regarded by his contemporaries jured had little ground for complaint, 

 with cynical smiles, as a man incapable because, if workers, they were "free" 

 of appreciating a "good thing." to work or desist, and if buyers, to buy 



The policy pursued by Warren Hast- the goods or leave them alone ; while, 



ings in India was similar in principle, as for the public, its interests were not 



He saw his chance, improved it, and to be seriously thought of. 



expected the approval of those who ob- Are we not conscious, however, of 



served how well he had taken care, not the acceptance to-day by increasing 



only of the interests of the company numbers of a different viewpoint? Do 



he served, but of himself. we not now speak of "human re- 



But sentiment sometimes changes, sources" which must be conserved? Do 



Verres, it will be recalled, realized this we not admit that the rights of the 



truth when, after listening to the first public are, after all, paramount to the 



of the powerful orations by Cicero on rights of the mere money-maker ; and 



his methods in Sicily, he found it advis- do we not agree that future generations 



able to flee with his booty. Hastings, have rights which the present is bound 



likewise, on returning to England dis- to respect? If such be true, is it not 



covered that public opinion in that probable that the day will come is, in 



