The examiner., 1882-04-01
" Small Potatoes" |"

AaSG Sunmor we udO OrOuSuGs auu buo consequence was that we had small pota- toes. There was nothing out of which large potatoes could be made. The gran ger looked in his scanty bin, but there was nothing saleable-only small potatoes. But all small potatoes were not in his eel lar, nor in those of the whole fraternity of grangers. No. This is an era of '' small potatoes" The world abounds with them. They are paramount in Congress and in every State legislature. They fill pulpits innumerable. Medicine and law are crowded with them. They control hun dreds of news papers. The universities turn them out by the cartload.
 The worst of it is, these small pota- toes do not know how small they are They make other things small through contact with them and yet they claim pre- cedence and distinction in all localities, as being an extra article, that must bring the highest price. Sensible men sigh when they contemplate the ultimate result of such state of things. An idea-hungry man looks around almost in vain for good
 
 the conclusion that they need 8 change of diet.
 After all, this large crop of "small po- tatoes " is not to, be wondered at. There has been morals drought ever since our Revolution, with but little opportunity for growth. Men grew strong by hard work and abundant food. But there has been no work to make us strong. We have been like heirs to a rich estate, left us by hard working fathers. We inherited govern ment assumed to be perfect. There was nothing to alter or mend, and therefore no chance for exercise. How could the politi- clan grow strong, always moving in des- ignated rutp And how could the press grow strong, confined to the partisan dis putes of "small potatoes" and their strug- gles for the dunghill? And how could the pulpit grow strong, with it's faiths and creeds settled by 8 half-grown Past, and not daring to look ahead9 "Small pota- toes were necessity under such condi- tions. Only few prescribed men have dared to think of progress.
 Since, art and industry worked under better conditions of freedom, and they have made substantial progress. They are not cursed with so many s'small potatoes. '' They are not walled in by the "wisdom of ancestors" There is no authority ' that compels them to halt They do moi yet dream of 8 stopping place. When il is assumed that perfection is reached, either in government, theology, science, art, or the constitution of society, then {" small potatoes" are natural growth, and have specific time to curse the world with belly-aches and pukes, resulting from the ''yarbs and "soothing syrups" ot antiquity.
 But there has been growth in defiance oi all obstrnctions, and that, too, where least expected. Along with the new tools and machines of industry have come new ideas to the men who used them and from these men will spring giants in the near future who will have no need for tsmall pota toes in any sphere of society. Their fiat will be, "the small potatoes must go. ,
 Every Revolution is merely an effort o
  whether in the shape of kings or theologi cans. When people have outgrown theil rulers, revolution is inevitable. It is 6 necessary concomitant of progress. The new ideas trample down the old. Progress never comes from rulers. The masses o the world to-day despise their rulers, ane are ahead of them. Something naust give way.
 How do we in the United States stand in regard to our revolutionary instincts Not at enmity with constitutional form o government, but despising the "smal potatoes" that administer it. Not al enmity with religion, but repudiating tho "sman potatoes that stand in the way O. progress-dried mummies of the past ancient scarecrows to frighten modern me1 and women. Not at enmity with wealth ; it's palaces, factories, mines or machinery } but preparing to dispute the right of { ) class to the exclusive possession and enjoy ment of almost everything that labo 7 creates.
 This is the drift of the coming New Rev l olution-a revolt of labor against thu time-honored plunderings, wrongs ant 7 tyrannies of capital. Let no class shut it eyes to the drift of things. Let no rule or government seek salvation througl force. We are on the eve of what may b ) termed class conflict, that requires con ciliations and compromises above the com prehension, it is to be feared, of "smal potatoes" J. Fl. BRAY. Pontiac, Mich.
 EDITOR EXAMINER :-
 In connection with the uolicv of n1akinl