The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-24

a-zztsorx. provided the avoze1 purpose q
none q them Is 20 violate the lax. He IS
free % use his energies % improve ne
condition OF v~ork.ngr1ea, II & is done II
a decent ard orderly way. He car preach
his doctrines OF reform anywhere and
everywhere, o. condition that he ADVISES
no rictous or Illegal methods Of attaining
them. As a citizen he has just exactly TIE
same privileges as President Cleveland c.
Herr Most, ard they have not been
abridged one iota since the time he ordered
D,eo9 men 70 throw 0p their work n
brought about a property and wage loss
which aggregated many millions OF dollars.
The task, he says. IS 20 rescue American
liberties from the grasp CT tire vandal
horde that has placed them IN peril. Tire
way OF accomplishing Il Is 20 seize the
ballot This is q legitimate r~econmenda-
ton. and IN working a crusade upon these
lines. Mr. De5s Is shorn OF no prerogatiyes
be was ever entitled 10. h only way
that wrongs can be redressed IS BY the
ballot. Il VIII only be when Mr.. Debs
puts himself Up higher than the govern
ment and recommends hftng rails, over
turning cars and applying the torch that
he VIII find his privileges curtalled or his
liberties IN any way interfred with. He
is perfectly free 70 advocate what he terms
resistance to the invasion Of the rights
of the workingmen by the corporations.
just as the corporations and property-own-
ers generally are 10 resist the invasion OF
their rights by workingmen under reck-
less leaders. The only obligation imposed
Is that lawful and legitimate means be
chosen TO secure the ends aimed at.
II Is a wise suggestion hat OF seeking
redress Of grievances by the ballot. As
10 the policy to be pursued after it is de-
termined to settle the problems at the
polls. that 10 a matter for after consider
alton. Mr.. Debs says that any man who
votes with the Old parties is a slave, and
he advocates joining a third one. In this
he makes the same mistake he did when
ordering the strike and through the same
cause-ignorance. He has not read his
tory, and II Will only be when his labor
party has proved a failure, just as his
strike was, that he will see the error.
He advocates what Is really a political
strike. lie does not realize that IL is not
q question of parties, but OF men. and
parties are just what men make them.
Whether 1t would DE better to attempt TO
reform the old parties and get them IN
the right way OF thinking, or to start out
with a new organization. is a question
that can be easily settled by any one
who reads OF the past and recalls the
long list Of third party wrecks that strew
the political shore. Mr.. Debs. however,
is not taught by history. but only by per-
sonal experience. and he cannot see that
the formation of a new party Is a foolish
fancy. A sip from the cup OF authority
and a taste of the delights of leadership
have no doubt led him To believe thai he
would be no such man in the old parties
as in the one built up around himself.
Therefore, his own selhshness warps hts
judgment and leads him TO advise what
older and more experienced men would
d!Scounienanee Parties old and new are
a representation OF the people composing
them Through any large party the voters
may max their will felt. and before the
workingmen follow Mr.. De5s' advice, they
should carefully look into the question and
be sure they are gaining a point and not
wasting their political rights in accom-
plishing nothing save perhaps some slight
sggrandizement for their so-called leaders.