The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-30
QUESTIONS UF The TIME.
Mr.. Rappaport Points Out the Line on Which
He Thinks Discussion Should Proceed.
the Editor OF tie Indianapolis journal,

Do the Editor OF tie Indianapolis Journal
A few days ago. when the Journal at
tackled Judge Baldwin on account Of GER
tain expressions in . speech before the
Progress Club. and called him Q d~emagogue.
in q card published in the same paper. The
Journal replied, and spoke particularly
against the idea that the poor cannot find
justice in our courts. At the end of its
article it says: 1T Is q mixture OF com
munism aud demsRogism. n belongs to q
class of teachings whose influence is en-
tirely vicious and unworthy Of any person
enjoying tho benefits of American citizen
ship"
Mr.. Baldwin and Mr.. Stechban defended
their position in further cards. and then o
Mr.. Emil Wilbrandt stepped in and de-
Tended the position Of the Journal In q
long card which abounds In IMPRESSIONS
like demagogue and in vituperations
against foreigners, although the name OF
the writer leads 60 tho belief that he is a
foreigner himself. He seems to be anxious
to be more Catholic than the Pope. Mr..
Wilbrandt closes his article as follows:
.'One word more. The less paternal gov
eminent we nave and the less labor legis-
lation-for labor is q commodity and must
always adjust itself to the immutable law
of supply and d~emand-the better it will be
for every inhabitant of this country"
One thing seems to be clear, that the
man who takes this standpoint as one
which must be, and always will be, as q
matter of course, who sees nothing repre-
hensible in the fact that human labor force
is treated as mere merchandise. just like
inanimate things. understands nothing OF
the great social question, has never exam
ined il, is u~nacquainted with the respect
i've literature. and is only able to utter q
few obsolete comm0nplaces.
However, this is not important. The
though not surprising, but regrettable and
characteristic phenomenon In this contr0-
versy Is the personal abuse and the re-
course taken TO patriotic phrases. Gener-
ally speaking, this does not show the
strength, but the weakness. of an argu-
ment. and adds nothing to the solution of q
problem. It shows q want of tact, under
standing and good taste, and further shows
that those who find . certain position
good enough for themselves. will allow no
attack upon it, whether 1t be just or not.
If overy one who expresses q certain view,
which does not please some one else. were
a demagogue, the country would be full of
deniagOgues, aud IL every attack upon ex-
listing institutions is designated as uDpa-
~triotic, then patriotism would consist in
leaving everything as 1t IL and prevent all
progress. Chinese stagnatlon would then
be patriotism.
" W. w IA
vain to claim for America an exceptional
position among the cultured nations upon
earth. True, the standard of life of the
American workman is higher han that of
bis European brother. but il Is also true
that no country produces as many million
aires as this. 1t 10 to be considered
that it is not exactly tho absolute
condition of the workman which creates
dissatisfaction but more so his relative
condition. as compared with that OF other
classes. The American laborer can there
fore never be appeased by comparing his
lot with that of the European workman. A
rich man enjoys many comforts which are
not absolutely necessary for the enjoyment
of life, yet he would feel very unhappy if
lie had 10 dispense with them. Emperor
Nero of Rome might have been made the
~happiest man in the world if somebody had
presented lin with q petroleum lamp. To-
workman's home. Could you argue from
this that e Iab0rer to-day is better OIL than
Emperor Nero wasf Aims and desires
change and grow with time aud conditions.
The economical phenomena are to-day
the same among all cultured nations. be-
cause among all of them the capitalistIc
system of production and distribution pre-
walls. No matter what the standard OF
living of the workman nay be, he is COM
PEELED to defend it with all the force sc bis
command to prevent ii from sinking.
Economical and political institutions
have not been created for all eternity,
neither in America nor anywhere else.
Everything on earth. nay, the earth itself.
Is subject TO change. and IN vain will be all
efforts to erect barriers so as TO prevent the
operation of the evolutionary force In nat
ure and society. This force mahi!ests itself
in the fact tina men become conscious of
existing Ills and owls, and study their
causes. Ii shows itself in the expression of
views, in aims and devices. They may be
different with different men, and. although
there exists q certain unanimity about
them within the different classes of socie-
", yet a man must not needs be a dema-
gogue or O traitor because he believes as
he does believe and not the Wise. A man
may belong to q certain class and adopt
the views Of another class, and yet he may
be an honest man.
Personal abuses IN the exchange Of
thoughts are only a hindrance to the bring
ing about of a harmonious and peaceable
understanding. and If there is anything to
be specifically American. then it should be
q free exchange of opinions without abuse
and personalities.
wish further To add that all the world
over. America not excepted. litigation
costs money. This is really all to be said
upon this point-the inferences present
themselves. doubt that under such an
intricate and complicated system of prop
erty. production and distribution as that
at the present ages remedy can be found.
IA To classes l only wish to state that
they have nothing to do with tue political
System or the form Of government. They
are nOt ike catnrea or caatea created ly