and ordered all the great economic forces of this country in such fashion that nothing but an outside force breaking in can disturb their domination and control.  It is with this in mind, I believe, that the country can say to these gentlemen:  “We do not deny your integrity; we do not deny your purity of purpose; but the thought of the people of the United States has not yet penetrated to your consciousness.  You are willing to act for the people, but you are not willing to act through the people.  Now we propose to act for ourselves.”

* * * * *

I sometimes think that the men who are now governing us are unconscious of the chains in which they are held.  I do not believe that men such as we know, among our public men at least—­most of them—­have deliberately put us into leading strings to the special interests.  The special interests have grown up.  They have grown up by processes which at last, happily, we are beginning to understand.  And, having grown up, having occupied the seats of greatest advantage nearest the ear of those who are conducting government, having contributed the money which was necessary to the elections, and therefore having been kindly thought of after elections, there has closed around the government of the United States a very interesting, a very able, a very aggressive coterie of gentlemen who are most definite and explicit in their ideas as to what they want.

They don’t have to consult us as to what they want.  They don’t have to resort to anybody.  They know their plans, and therefore they know what will be convenient for them.  It may be that they have really thought what they have said they thought; it may be that they know so little of the history of economic development and of the interests of the United States as to believe that their leadership is indispensable for our prosperity and development.  I don’t have to prove that they believe that, because they themselves admit it.  I have heard them admit it on many occasions.

I want to say to you very frankly that I do not feel vindictive about it.  Some of the men who have exercised this control are excellent fellows; they really believe that the prosperity of the country depends upon them.  They really believe that if the leadership of economic development in this country dropped from their hands, the rest of us are too muddle-headed to undertake the task.  They not only comprehend the power of the United States within their grasp, but they comprehend it within their imagination.  They are honest men, they have just as much right to express their views as I have to express mine or you to express yours, but it is just about time that we examined their views for ourselves and determined their validity.