There is much more that Mr. Wilson says as to which I do not understand him clearly, and where I condemn what I do understand.  In economic matters the course he advocates as part of the “New Freedom” simply means the old, old “freedom” of leaving the individual strong man at liberty, unchecked by common action, to prey on the weak and the helpless.  The “New Freedom” in the abstract seems to be the freedom of the big to devour the little.  In the concrete I may add that Mr. Wilson’s misrepresentations of what I have said seem to indicate that he regards the new freedom as freedom from all obligation to obey the Ninth Commandment.

But, after all, my views or the principles of the Progressive party are of much less importance now than the purposes of Mr. Wilson.  These are wrapped in impenetrable mystery.  His speeches and writings serve but to make them more obscure.  If these attempts to refute his misrepresentation of my attitude towards the trusts should result in making his own clear, then this discussion will have borne fruits of substantial value to the country.  If Mr. Wilson has any plan of his own for dealing with the trusts, it is to suppress all great industrial organizations—­presumably on the principle proclaimed by his Secretary of State four years ago, that every corporation which produced more than a certain percentage of a given commodity—­I think the amount specified was twenty-five per cent—­no matter how valuable its service, should be suppressed.  The simple fact is that such a plan is futile.  In operation it would do far more damage than it could remedy.  The Progressive plan would give the people full control of, and in masterful fashion prevent all wrongdoing by, the trusts, while utilizing for the public welfare every industrial energy and ability that operates to swell abundance, while obeying strictly the moral law and the law of the land.  Mr. Wilson’s plan would ultimately benefit the trusts and would permanently damage nobody but the people.  For example, one of the steel corporations which has been guilty of the worst practices towards its employees is the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.  Mr. Wilson and Mr. Bryan’s plan would, if successful, merely mean permitting four such companies, absolutely uncontrolled, to monopolize every big industry in the country.  To talk of such an accomplishment as being “The New Freedom” is enough to make the term one of contemptuous derision.

President Wilson has made explicit promises, and the Democratic platform has made explicit promises.  Mr. Wilson is now in power, with a Democratic Congress in both branches.  He and the Democratic platform have promised to destroy the trusts, to reduce the cost of living, and at the same time to increase the well-being of the farmer and of the workingman—­which of course must mean to increase the profits of the farmer and the wages of the workingman.  He and his party won the election on this promise.  We have a right to expect that they will keep it.