The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-12
THE POPULISTS MEET.
A SLIM GATHERING AT THE CEN
TRIAL THEATRE.
Laurence Gron1und, "ColIectivistc
and POpulist, Delivered the Adj
dress of the Evenf-g-Remnrks
BY the Lesser Lights.

The Populists met in the Central
theatre building on Commercial street
last evening to listen to the celebrated
author and "collectivist" Mr.. Laurence
Gronlund, who arrived in this city from
the east last "Wednesday. The audi
ence. which did not exceed 100 persons.
applauded literally, but the enthusiasm
manifested in the meetings of the old
parties was entirely absent.
The chairman, Mr.. w. A. Mckenzie,
in introducing him, said that Mr.. Gron-
lund had been misunderstood on the
silver question. He was not against
interests Of the western people.
Mr.. Gronlund said in part:
1t was reading PascallS thoughts"
with it's terrible illustration of this
world as a slaughter-house, that led
me to become collectivist, preacher
of national corporations. I am con-
WINGED that this is Gods evident WILL
working through evolution. Evolution
is not always slow, as Herbert Spencer
teaches. Evolution at first is slow, but
little by little it gathers in swiftness,
then it goes with railroad speed. and
finally the change is accomplished in
the twinkling of an eye. So it was
with Christianity, with the reformation;
with the French revolution; with aboli-
ton of slavery, and so it will be with
national cooperation, with collectiviSm
here. Everything is ready for it (since
we can satisfy any possible, present
demand) except the intelligence Of our
people.
But fortunately in our country our
farmers stand in the front ranks of
progress and organized labor is ready
to unite with 1t in the decisive struggle
against capitalism. Capitalists are
superfiuous, though capital is necessary.
This is shown by the trusts. q necessary
element of evolution. In the trusts the
capitalists have abdicated their func-
tons; have become "rudimentary or
gans;" hence Tabor and capital have
not equal rights-as Lincoln affirmed
labor is superior" But capitalism,
moreover, is now injurious to progress,
and has the most immoral con-
sequences in it's train. Our
hard times were produced, be-
cause employers, whenever they could
not make their accustomed profits, shut
down their Observation-Disclosures. Cap
italisn conpels us to compete with our
fellow men, and competitive business,
Herbert Spencer affiuns, can never be
moral, since the worst scoundrel al
ways sets the standard. Capitalism
forbids us to lead a moral life, because
it looks upon the working classes as
mere means to private ends-means to
capitalist greed. Hence the wage sys-
tenn is immoral, degrading. We must
have democracy in industry, then we
shall have freedom. All, there is
vast distinction between liberty and
freedom. We are not free until we
have power to do what we ought to do;
we are not free now, because we have
,Ot A for ,f1I,
they convert into icense-a license
which raises UP, on the one hand,
naughty milHonaires, who sneer at the
public veal and the public will; and on
the other 1T has created our ruffianly,
prize-fighting youths. And lastly, cap
italisrn tempts us all into immoral
courses, tempts us all, good and bad,
daily into anti-social feelings, like gam
bling; it tempts poor women sorely to
dishonor themselves-and this tempta-
tion proceeds from society, that is des-
tined to be mans providence on earth. I
National cooperation will change all
this, and tempt us in the right way
Then we shall have a. higher moral |
ity. Our morality is now either a mere
lubricant, kind of grease wherewith
to ease the friction Of the social ma
chinery, or 1T Is pure pharisaism, teach
ing respectable people how to be better
$1,000
from their fellows. Lavilege in his last
work warned US: ITO issue from prim-
btive simplicity and suddenly grow
enormously rich, threatens immortality
and ruin; this we now witness in the
United States"
LIT will secure us abundan nee, because
1T will guarantee us suitable work, and
thereby enable us to consume, to make
an effective demand; and consumption
is primary, Is the dynanics of wealth.
Thus 1T will also bring to all security. (
insecurity, that terrible curse of the
working classes was the fearful price
they paid for their liberty" on issuing
from serfdom- This national co-opera-
ton, or collectivism. it is possible to
realize in full In our country in the
nrst decade of the next century. IT
must be accomplished gradually. and I |
hope the Peoples party will be the
agent to bring it about; for every new
party always is led much further nv
the power behind evolution" than their |
first leaders dream of.
LAURENCE GRONLJJND
II. G. Snyder made a brief address
IN favor OF the Populist party. The
dryness of the meeting was agreeabIv
iessened by mandolin and guitar rnusic |
and the rally flickered out.