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128 we do? Shall we eat into the principal and be merry while it lasts?

Well, we may squirm under the restrictions and try to persuade ourselves that they do not exist and while making inroads upon principal deceive ourselves in the belief that our income is really greater than it is. Within a family, limited by its budget, some of the stronger and more selfish members may greedily aggrandize their shares at the expense of the weaker and less assertive. Such instances are common enough both in corporate and family affairs. Our national affairs as a whole are in no wise different except in magnitude and greater complication.

In my recent discussion with an idealist, to which I have referred, I said in conclusion that in my judgment the aspirations of the discontented boil down to the simple desire to steal from those who have what they would like. This raw expression naturally was not relished, but we found that we could stand on a common ground in the agreement that the true aspiration of everybody is to know the facts. I think there is more trouble in this country at the present time from not knowing the facts than owing to anything else. If we know the facts we shall be apt, as a whole, to take the commonsense view of them. So, after much wandering, I thus return to the theme of my address.