The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-08
JOHN sw1NtoN THE SOCIALIST.
A Man Who Labors for the Oppressed from
Principle and at Personal Sacrifice.

Principle and at q Personal Sacrifice.
New York Correspondence Boston Herald.
One Of the most interesting men you could
find in days search of the great metropolis is
John Swinton. the most celebrated and, at the
same time, the most respected, of the Socialist
leaders in America. Mr.. Swinton has more I'M
trammeled opinions and he makes less bones
about letting them be known than any Of the
crowd who in every large center are always
clamoring for change, without caring particu-
larly how that change is brought about, so they
can get lick at the boobies of the rich. Mr.
Swinton was for years the principal man on the
Sun-under Mr. Dana, of course-and it used to
be said Of him that he was the best paid news
paper man in America, as he is undoubt-
eddy one of the best writer's. During
the past dozen years Mr.. Swinton has
taken growing interest in the claims of the
masses to some other consideration than being
allowed to carry on a mere existence. In the
cause of human rights Mr.. Swinton has waged a
strong and at times bitter warfare. So far as
his personal welfare is concerned he would have
been great deal better off if he had let the
Socialists fight their own battles. and had con-
fined his attention exclusively to the molding
of his private fortunes But, with the warm
sympathy of a man with big. tender heart in
him, Swinton went out to these people, and
worked among them with a degree of earnest
ness which told them he was not only with them,
but of them. He spent many of his evenings in
addressing them and comforting with them, and
he gave so much of his thought to their cause that
he had very little left for his own affairs. Wher
ever you heard of a meeting among the poor
to protest against the expressions of the rich,
there you could be sure of finding the name OF
John Swinton among the speakers near the head.
This kind of thing naturally drew his attention
away from the work he was doing on the Sun,
and Swinton conceived the idea Of starting a
paper for the Socialists to read. He did not ex-
pect to make any considerable amount Of money
out of it But he did think he could run along
smoothly and comfortably enough, and he threw
up his fine position on the Sun to establish his
Socialist organ. He had not been at it very
long when he found that something was wrong.
His paper Was not selling. 1t was hard to ac-
count for tbs fact because his popularity among
the masses had not abated. and everywhere he
went he was cheerpa with all the old en-
thusasn. His friends accounted for the
difficulty by saying he was writing over
the heads of his constituency He tried
to shoot lower. No use. Outspoken as his
paper was it was being read by ten Vanderbilts
where it received the attention OF one or the
people for whom it was intended. One day Mr..
Swinton was telling me abont this condition Of
things and told him it was Cue to the fact that
his followers couldn't read He laughed at me,
because he thought was joking. But wasn't.
and you may depend that what gave as the
reason of his lack of prosperity is correct.
Sometimes, when l want to see the tough side
OF New York, go around to one of these Social
ist meetings, or to the saloon where Justus
Schwab sells beer. Schwab is the leader of the
German who will be shot some day while barri
cading the streets or leading a riot The
burners of cities and destroyers of rich men
all drink their beer at Sehwabs saloon.
They about as hard looking a collection OF
customers as you would be likely to meet in a
very long journey. Sehwab himself is about as
low the rest, only that his lungs are stronger,
and he is thus enabled to howl louder at the
Socialists meetings. Herr Most, who consumes
much beer at Schwab,s place, is a bullet headed
party who is bent on fire and destruction, but
who wants somebody else TO do the firing and de-
stroying, as it is the case with most of the
members of this nice crowd. SwintOn is very
far above all these fellows, who small, litter
ate, unsavory people, with strong predispesi-
ton in favor Of crime, but not enough courage
to be criminals Swinton is a man OF brains,
who has somewhat Utopian visions rs to the ele-
vation of chuckle headed people, who are quite
naturally poor to the plane of intelligent and
industrious people who happen to be rich
In this pursuit he has sunk . very great
part of the earnings of his lifetime. and
the chances are that he will have to 60 back, one
Of these days to the field where he is appreciated
at his true worth. He holds it a high honor to
be looked upon with grateful sentiments by the
dOwntredden poor. So, no doubt it is. But
that doesn't buy bread and butter; and hungry
philanthropist cannot convey happiness to him
self or anybody else. Swinton looks more like
Horace Greeley as he grows older, only that his
eyes are black, while Greeleys were blue. His
pen is full of Yirlity, and his writings have pic
turesque personality all their own. He has
kindly words for all men who seek him. and his
disappointment concerning his paper is tinged
with quaint philosophy peculiarly Swintenian.
There are few men in New York so little under
stood, so able, self forgetful and SO generous.
When Swinton dies, it Will be seen that he is
well beloved. Meanwhile. the earlier his re-
turn to daily journalism, the better for it and for
him.