TheodoreRoosevelt:ThedifferencebetweenMr.Wilsonandmyselfisfundamental.Theotherdayin aspeechatSiouxFalls,Mr.Wilsonstatedhispositionwhenhesaidthatthehistoryofgovernment,the historyofliberty,wasthehistoryofthelimitationofgovernmentalpower.Thisistrueasanacademic statementofhistoryinthepast.Itisnottrueasastatementaffectingthepresent.Itistrueofthehistory ofmedievalEurope.ItisnottrueofthehistoryoftwentiethcenturyAmerica. Inthedayswhenallgovernmentalpowerexistedexclusivelyinthekingorinthebaronageandwhenthe peoplehadnoshredofthatpowerintheirownhands,thenitundoubtedlywastruethatthehistoryof libertywasthehistoryofthelimitationofthegovernmentalpoweroftheoutsiderswhopossessedthat power.Buttoday,thepeoplehave,actuallyorpotentially,theentiregovernmentalpower.Itistheirsto useandtoexercise,iftheychoosetouseandtoexerciseit.Itofferstheonlyadequateinstrumentwith whichtheycanworkforthebetterment,fortheupliftingofthemassesofourpeople. ThelibertyofwhichMr.Wilsonspeakstodaymeansmerelythelibertyofsomegreattrustmagnateto dothatwhichheisnotentitledtodo.Itmeansmerelythelibertyofsomefactoryownertowork haggardwomenoverhoursforunderpayandhimselftopockettheprofits.

Itmeansthelibertyofthe factoryownertoclosehisoperativesintosomecrazydeathtraponatopfloor,whereiffirestarts,the slaughterisimmense.Itmeansthelibertyofthebigfactoryownerwhoisconscienceless,and unscrupuloustoworkhismenandwomenunderconditionswhich[inaudible]theirliveslikean [inaudible].Itmeansthelibertyofevenlessconscientiousfactoryownerstomaketheirmoneyoutof thetoil,thelabor,oflittlechildren.Menofthisstamparethemenwhoselibertywouldbepreservedby Mr.Wilson.Menofthisstamparethemenwhoselibertywouldbepreservedbythelimitationof governmentalpower. Wepropose,onthecontrary,toextendgovernmentalpowerinordertosecurethelibertyofthewage

workers,ofthemenandwomenwhotoilinindustry,tosavethelibertyoftheoppressedfromthe oppressor.Mr.Wilsonstandsforthelibertyoftheoppressortooppress.Westandforthelimitationof hislibertynottooppressthosewhoareweakerthanhimself.