Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-13

the political party in this country
which is given to denouncing its oppo-
nents as socialists is itself the prime
promoter of socialism. The protective
policy is paternalism undisguised. 1t
teaches the people to look upon the
Government as an agency outside of
themselves which may rightfully take
from one and give to another, and en-
rich its favorites The protective poll
cy is the mother of trusts, and the Re"
publican party has them all among its
supporters
These trusts delight the true social
list. To him they are gratifying proof
that unrestrained individualism is by
evolution working toward collectivism.
The concentration of capital made pos
sible by the improved means of pro-
duction, communication and transpor-
tation, and which results in trusts, the
socialist regards as movement alto
gether desirable What he wishes for,
what he expects, is that when the bus
mess of the country shall come under
the control of few great trusts the
Government will step in and substitute
itself for the individual in enjoyment
of the monopolies. Then we should
have the government as the only CAPT
talist, the only employer, and the CO.
operative commonwealth, the dream Of
the socialist, would be realized.
OF course there is nothing Of which
the Rockefellers and Carnegies and
Huntingtons disapprove so heartily as
socialism. They abhor the word, and
so do their good friends the respecta
BILE politicians of the Republican party,
who give them protective tariff, the
gold standard end whatever else they
think necessary to the increase of their
profits and power. 1t will strike the
millionaires of the trusts and their SER
vitors as grotesque to accuse them Of
being socialists, yet the protested So
cialists recognize in them, If not broth
ers in purpose, then instrumentalities
immensely potent for the breaking
down of our competitive civilization.
Senator Chandler, also, will be as
tonished, and vastly amused, too, per-
haps, to find himself classed as So
cialist But, whether he knows it or
not, he is really fulfilling socialistic
prophecy. The Bethlehem and Carne-
gle steel trust having refused to fur
nish armor for our war ships except on
its own terms, Senator Chandler has
introduced bill to authorize the au-
thorities to take possession of the
works and operate them until the Gov
eminent has supplied itself with all
the armor it needs.
II the trustS are not too dull to per-
ceive the significance of this Chandler
bill they will mend their ways, moder-
ate their appetites and not provoke the
people to applaud a proposal which
may readily be extended in its applica-
tion to trusts other than the greedy
and defiant, if strictly business'like
armor combine. The American people
are far from being socialistic in inten-
ton, but there is danger, real danger,
that in their resentment at the power
and aggressiveness of private capital
they may be goaded into giving coun-
tenance to such acts of reprisal as that
contemplated by the indignant Chand-
ler-which would be rank socialism.
Extremes have an inherent tendency
to meet, and the trusts by pursuing
their own selfish ends are blindly push
ing themselves toward destruction
through Governmental absorption. :
The movement is not one that entices
the American spirit, which is naturally
self-reliant and intensely individual.
But if the issue should be brought to
the form: "Shall the trusts run the
Government, or the Government run
the trusts" it needs no special fore
sight to predict the popular answer.
Therefore every American who by in
stinct and conviction is hostile to So
cialism should by reason Of that hos
tility be in opposition to the political
party which MIXTURES and coddles the
trusts.-New York Journal.
Thousands-yes, millions of honest