The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-02
UTTERANCEs OF DEADLY IMPORT.

Ellen Lease, the Kansas Populist leader,
was an incendiary, an anarchist, an OPP
ponent of law and order, a missionary
of force and destruction, that person
would be accused OF exaggeration and
Mrs. Lease would undoubtedly be in
dignant.
Yet she is all of these and worse, and
but for the fact that her words have
not yet been taken in full seriousness
she would today be the accom-
plice of murderers as foul
as Ravachol or valiant. When one
obtains the prominence that Mrs. Lease
has attained. and has secured the fol-
lowing that she has secured, ones pub
lie OF private utterances can not be too
carefully guarded.
Call her position what you may, she
has achieved prominence, or notoriety if
You please, and has become public
figure With certain class
her words have weight, much
more than people are inclined
to credit. The newspapers give to her
an audience million fold larger than
she could achieve without their support.
We do not realize the harm that even
free press may do in the most innocent
way imaginable. In the older countries
where censorship prevails or where the
press is compelled by law to repress
utterances of socialistic or anarchistic
nature the circulation of such utter
ances has TO be obtained
by secret propaganda. Here day
and night the words of these would
be-destroyers are given currency and
beget converts. 1t is always easy to
gain believers in socialism and anarch-
ism among the classes that are suffering.
Mrs. Lease has been too long regarded
as one OF the humors of American politi-
cal life. She has been made the subject
of jest and ridicule. and her whole
connection with public life and affairs
has been treated as huge joke, but il
is far more than joke. Ii is serious
matter, matter that should be made
the subject Of thought, not ridicule.
She represents large element in
American life, and as their representa-
tive she must be taken cognizance of
and treated.
Mrs. Lease in her first speech in New
York before an audience, not of the
poverty stricken, unemployed class, but
well dressed audience, a well fed audi
ence, which applauded her, declared
that, 1.-The mighty giant of labor is
aroused in this country. He is shaking
the pillars of the temple. Men will not
starve in the sight of plenty when the
votary of fashion gives TO her poodle
dog game pies and chicken. Aristoc-
racy may well tremble as it remembers
the French revolution. The engines of
destruction were never so cheap and SO
terrible as they are today"
What words are these to issue from
the lips of an intelligent, well educated
woman in the city Of New York at the
present day? "For every child that
dies of hunger there must be expia-
ton and cancellation in the homes
of the rich Herein lies her
offense. She points out sad conditions,
and, as her remedy points out force, dis
order, lawlessness and murder. There
can be no other meaning, no other in
depreciation to her language. BY play
ing on the heartstrings of the despair |
ing poor aud melting them to a belief |
that the rich are responsible for their |
poverty she stirs up the most awful |
hatreds the human soul is capable of,
and then from her lips falls the warning |
which becomes as she intends, advice |
TO use force and lawlessless to avenge |
supposed wrongs.
The conditions of riches and poverty, |
plenty and want, suffering and pleasure,
have existed from time immemorial. |
There is by far less contrast in the
United States than elsewhere. There is
less of misery, less of want, more of the
milk Of human kindness and the
desire to ameliorate the conditions of
the poor than elsewhere. The poor
man has it in his power to regulate
affairs lawfully, without disorder and
without the horrors Of a reign of terror.
The "rich men" so-called comprise an
insignificant number of citizens; they
can not dominate over the poor man,
unless the latter SO chooses.
Rut fo bpliave that tbere is n cnra for
poverty; that socialism offers any rem
edy for the inequalities in financial
standing is the height OF Stiffness. Wise
and beneticent legislation will do much
TO abolish poverty; and except in rare
instances brotherly love and generosity
will prevent the extremities of suffering.
The wild harangues like that OF Mrs.
Lease are doing much to encourage
socialism and anarchy. Tho growth
is simply appalling. We do not realize