Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1896-02-07

| not think himself to be, yet, perhaps, he is
nearer to him than he knows, for Mr.. George
accuses his readers Of not understanding him,
and the writer will confess that he does not
understand that author on the point in ques-
ton. Mr.. Georges presentation faculty is
rich though, and no one can fail to profit by
reading him, our cyclopedias even credit him
with having introduced new era In social and
political economy. II there is reader Of the
News who has not yet read Henry George he
should not fail to procure his .'Social Prob
lems,' his progress and Poverty and even
his "Protection and Free Trade" is worth pc
rusing.
| But returning to our subject, enc says;-
What will you do for old feeble age? Well,
that is question not to be overlooked. but If
the methods Of land-tenancy is the best system
that in our day and in our country can be adopt
ed to provide for old age, 1t only shows how
| feeble advancement we have yet made toward
ginufne democracy-or genuine republicanlsm
II you please If the unadulterated kind could
be brought into operation. the writer thinks
there would be no occasion to worry over old
age in that respect, but If we are going to ad-
vance on the track now taken, and let republic
anism-or democracy II you please-smelt
down and revert into plutocracy and arlsto-
cracy, we may we'll feel apprehension for old
age, and also for young age for that matter. and
the very institution Of land-tenancv, which is
not democratic, but an artstocratic institu-
tiea, will make the matter worse for both, for
1t will be a comparatively small part that will
possess the land and be provided fer old age by
such means-that is--be they lords, while the
bulk OF the people. both Of young and old age,
will be the serfs OF the lords-that is-selfsh-
ness will hold the upper sway and take the
lions part, and the devil will take the hind
most.
| Still the question of old age would be worth
considering. but it will carry us too far from
the subject OF this article. 1.-THE various lodges
do not give satisfaction, the writer can at this
moment give no better consolation than point
to . pension system said to be in vogue In some
parts o: the Prussian Empire
| He only presents the idea such as he has re-
ceived it, and leaves fer ltebhabers to work up
the details OF his plan,
1 About the criminal offence Of land-tenancy
orc says-If it IS crime why has it not been
! recognized as such long ago? Here we board
| the field OF public opinion and that is a stub
| born thing to handle.
Referring to the case above about the half
dozen neighbors, OF whom two moved to town
with the selfish metive OF partaking Of the
benefits already established, the verdict of
public opinion would be: "They are very smart
and respectable men," OF those who remained
In the country to work up their social oppor
tunity. their schools and the welfare of them
selves and the whole community with all the
odds against them, the verdict Of public Opin-
ion as compared with the others would be;
4They are blockheads and idiots" Such is the
logical judgment Of public opinion. Still pub
Tic opinion has q tremendous force, it has all
temporal force. Fublic opinion does not use
ferethought Sut afterthought and it is perhaps
we'll Public opinion Is soft like milk and hard
like rock. Public opinion Is like flock of sheep
led by q bell wether, where the wether goes the |
flock will fellow; then again public opinion is |
dormant and fmmovable rs o mountain. 1853 |
years ago there was man who rode up from |
Bethany to jerusalem, great multitudes Of
people following him afore and after, shouted |
praises to him and sang hosannas. After four |
days Of speeches and demonstrations by GER /
tain class OF people who are said to be leaders
of public opinion, the same multitude shouted |
Cruelty him. crueify him!'' And this man was
the truest republican and greatest benefactor
OF mankind that history has yet recorded.
About two years ago a man named Coxey
made q trip down to Washington on benevol-
ent mission. He ran up against some Of the
legislators OF public opinion. They knocked
him down and shut him up and public opinion
said-amen.
Public opinion is patient as lamb and fierce
as tiger, and there is class OF men who have
given themselves q. patent on instructing pub
lie opinion, these men have good deal of am
bition and no less Of selfshness, so the writer
guesses they have simply forgotten to teach
public opinion that the institution OF land ten
acv is crime. Poor innocent public opinion
Is therefore in ignorance on the matter neither
would it do Tor these people to so teach, for
they would make themselves criminals. In
Iced there are number OF offences that have
40 place in the criminal code for the same 9
reason.
But here is one-who tells us that the church
8 sure and reliable watchman in such mat
ers. Yes indeed it is, and it does tell us about
hose things in its own peculiar way. The
hurch has only fallen into the habit of think
md teaching that it is not temporal but spirit
al, and the absurdity of it is that it makes the
piritual ghostly superstition: as quick as :
he church turns the ghostly vision onto these
hings it darts of to heaven and leaves US poer
errestrial beings to help ourselves if we can.
till some are mean enough to think that the
hurch is human. that it has good meas-
re of ambition and selfishness, and that it
ever was the strong side of the church to
lace its finger upon the ulcerous spot of socie v
7, especially if it is in danger to butt up
gainst respectable public opinion. If public
pinion marches afore them the church titls 7
tier, it does upon the liquor question: it did i
} upon the southern slavery question, it has
ways done SO.
The church of to-day is like the church of old,
Continued ON Fourth Page.