The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-23
THE EVIL THAT THREATENS Us.

II EVIL THAT IHkfAiINN' -
We printed Yesterday the platform Of
Debs' Social Democracy. rs adopted at
its convention i'm Chicago last Saturday
evening. our readers will r~ecollcct that
it calls for ownership by the Government
'of an industries controlled by monopo-
lies. trusts and combines" What would
not fall within this heading would be
hardly worth mentioning. IL would in
clude almost every business. In addition.
the Government is to own all railways.
telographs. telephones. all means Of
transportation, communication. all water
works. gas plants. electric plants. and
all other utilities whatever they may
DE. 1t is TO all gold. silver. copper.
lead. coal. iron and an OF mp mines. and
all oil and gas wells. The hours Of labor
are TO be reduced in proportion to the
progress Of production public works
enough are to be undertaken 10 furnish
employment for an the unemployed. and
the public credit is to stretched TO what
ever limit is necessary for supplying
money to pay them with. an useful inyen-
tions are to be free for all. the inventor
being enumerated by the public. and
generally. an business is to be owned
ana conducted by the Government.
Now we ask every citizen TO inquire
Of himself what sort OF q Government
does he think we should have under
Dehs' plan? Leaving out OF view every
other Of the myriads Of evils ana calami-
tics that would be involved in it. let every
man pause and reflect upon what would
occur Ut every election. Almost every
voter would De a public officer, and re-
tcntion OF his place would be. to a GER
tain extent. involved I'm The election. Each
candidate for Office would make his can
vass upon promises 10 the voters of what
he would do for them with public pa
tronage when elected, SO that the cleo
tions would be nothing but a huge sys-
TEN Of machinery for dcbauching voters
with public money. such a state Of az
fairs is too horrible 10 contemplate. but
Debs' movement Is not To- be- pooh-poohed
for that reason. 1t is the coming danger
to our Institutions. Deb platform Is moth
irc but rurc Socialism. Herbert spencer, ia
the last volume Of his great work. just
out. admits. after doploring it. that the
whole tendency of the world Is towards
Socialism. Dobs' movement is not TO be
treated lightly. therefore. 10 is Organism
carried to its logical results. though
neither Mr.. Bryan nor his followers have
the slightest idea that this is q fact. II
Is. however. all the same. II IS to be
fought. therefore. with AN our might II
We would escape us blasting influences.
Last sundays New York sun had the
following special telegram from London
which furnishes a fair example Of the
operation OF Socialism I'm government.
LONDON. June l9-Nhcn the truth or
the slsmcful condition o. the Turkish
fleet dawncd upon the Sultan. and when.
later. he heard that Greek Warshlps
were bombarding his towns and hamper
ins che transport OF his troops. nc called
I. special council meeting, which proved
10 he tho FIRST OF a long series. 10 con-
sider the naval question. The last OF
these council meetings was held Just a
month ago. II decided ~ send an en-
,ov 10 Engiaud TO open negotiations with
Messrs. Armstrong < Mitchell ~ Els
wick.
The nrm expressed is willingness 10
r~eOrganizc tho Turkish navy and build
a me fleet OF warships on one condition
precedent. viz. the abrogation of what
Is known as thc Mahsussie monopoly.
Tiereupon CONSERVATION prevailed at the
Yildiz Kiosk and In the Government
offices. and no wonder for this mOnOpo-
Is ~ the most profitable, almost, az tho
command OF the Turkish Govcrnm mt.
The whole crowd Of parasites has fat
tened upon IL FOR years past. II las
enabled many a Minister 70 endure with
out TOO loui repining. the chronic omis-
sions 10 pay salaries.
The Mahsussie Company has a monopoly
Of steamship COMMUNICATION In Turkish
waters. II maintains "a large fleet OF
Email steamers which ply 20 The ports
OF the Golden HON. the Sea OF Marnora
ana the Islands along The coast OF