The Labor enquirer., 1886-07-10
ORATOR OF THE DAY.

There was time when the "orator of
the day" who oficiated at Independence
Day celebrations considered it his task
and bounden duty to recount the strug-
giles and tribulatlons of our country ere
it freed itself from the clutch of tyr
amy; to recount with glowing words
of burning patriotism the history OF
our land, whose open arms have re-
ceived the oppressed of everv cline;
to impress his fellow citizens with a
feeling of pride in the strength and
beauty of our national structure.
The Rev. Phillips, who delivered the
Grafton of the day at our recent celehra-
ton here, is not of the kind of Fourth of
July orators who paint in glowing colors
the future of our country. Rome"
said he, celebrated her fourth century,
and in pride of age and power, named
herself Eternal but she fell. Not from
the hand of outward foe, but from the
rottenness of her own internal fabric.
So may we." The orator did not enter
into or touch upon the cause of the rot
ten condition of the Roman Empire
previous tc its fall. He did not repeat
the historic fact that the land was
owned" by three per cent of the popu-
lation and that the masses were
"harassed, poor and discomfort" Nor
did he point out the fact that causes
which operated to scuttle the Roman
ship of state are at work to perform the
same act on the American bark OF free
dom-the fair young Republic Of the
West.
Is not the dark cloud that hangs in the
horizon of our futurity akin to the cy-
clonic cloud that swept away the Roman
civilization? According to Mr.. Phillips
the cause that will tend to send our CIV
illzation to the same destruction is not
that the land IF our country is rapidly
passing into the hands of the few into
the possession of corporations and syn
dicates and money kings, who are able
to buy it up and hold it till the press CT
population enables them to hold as
slaves to their rent roll, those who must
take their lands at an exorbitant rent OF
starve.
Neither did the orator mention aught
of The fact that labor saving machines,
which are being constantly invented
and bought up by the rich, are driving
human beings to the highways of our
country as tramps and criminals who
naturally enough care nothing for home.
as they have none, and care less for
their country in which they cannot
make living.
Neither did the orator tell his hearers
that there was danger in and from such
men as the ex-senator who introduced
him to his audience, although the same
man has ridden through the streets of
the orators own city of Leadville on
: election day with a handful of bank
notes brazenly shouting, "BY God, We'll
see who carries this election"
None of these things we're mentioned
by the orator as being source of danger
to our county.
He, however, has located, so he says,
the real and true source of the danger
which lies ahead of our country, and
says that it is "the torrent of SoCialistiC
ideas and pernicious teachings which if
not stamped out will carry our land to
destruction"
The orator did not expose the horrible
nature of the SoClalistic teachings and
doctrines. He did not, as he should
have done, explain briefly and logically
the bad character of the creed he says
will, if not stamped out" lay our land
in ruins.
Socialism being as he says it is, a doc
trine of blood and dynamite, it does seem
that decent regard for his own reputa-
tion as truthful Orator OF. the day"
would have compelled him to show up
the plank in the Socialistic platform
that reads of blood and dynamite.
But he did not and probably thought
his purpose would best be accomplished
by acting the part of the man who, to
revenge petty spite on a good dog,
went through the village telling the peo-
pie beware of the mad dog, and in that
lying, mean way succeeded in having
the poor dog killed. But the orator and
his capitallsuc keepers are making poor
calculations If they count on having the
people believe the blood and dynamite
lies about Socialism, without any proof
except mere mad dog" cry.
The orator, like bis class, intention,
ally or otherwise, makes the mistake
that Socialism is a cause instead of an
effect; that it is disease instead of a
cure.
The Socialist claims that the same
disease that wrought the death of Rome
Is growing in our country and he offers
his remedy in good faith and intent, as