President Roosevelt made a great speech at Pittsburg on July
4th, in which he indicated his attitude towards Cuba and towards Trusts, both of them at present burning questions in the United States. As to Cuba, he said that as Cuba must become "part of the general political system in international affairs at the head of which the Union stands," the United States is bound to give her preferential economic privileges. As to Trusts, the President maintained that great individual or corporate fortunes were a benefit or "a serious menace" accordint-,b as they were used. He thought they must be dealt with, though the instruments of dealing with such new problems must themselves be new. New legislation was required in the nation, the States, and the Munici- palities, but its authors must not be hurried by any clamour, "historical or demagogic," or frightened by any threat, express or implied. He himself believed that much could be done "by supervision and regulation," but it must not be done hurriedly or presumptuously, still less "in a spirit of envy, hatred, and malice." Mr. Roosevelt evidently intends if he can to make the greater Trusts responsible to the national Government for their action ; but as those Trusts bjett above all-things to supervision, he will find great diffi- culties in his path from -them, as -well as from the Federal .system. He has, however; the people behind him.
