The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-16


industry and development of resources;
assuming that there is a considerable
class SO indoctrinated with anarchical
and radical socialistic ideas that they
are ready for the torch and the bludg-
con as the means of so-called reforms
they hope for; that there is a consider
able class who, not approaching free
government, believe that the American
system is a failure, and that it is a
right thing to do to overturn it and
substitute the theories of agitators and
sentimentalists, assuming that there are
these classes, and still others moved by
havoc and civil war, is 1T at all likely
that there viii be such cooperation
among them as to bring on a revolution
of any formidable character? We think
not.
Nor if the attempt is made, as Sow
ereign seems to fear, will there fail to
be heard and felt the great body of the
people who are neither the rich nor the
poor, and whose every interest resides in
peace and the maintenance of order
under the law; who believe that all po-
| ltical evil may be righted in orderly
manner; that there is nothing to gain
| by revolution and war; that the sch enc
| of civilization in America does not IN
volve the fruiting of betterment from
40 Of no n
tons citizens. These are guardians of
the nation, who will not stand idly by
and permit the desperate and the IA
natical to so far progress with revolu-
| tiOnary movement, as to make it at any
moment a menace to the stability of the
! Government.
| Sovereign quotes from a secret circu-
| lar that he says is having circulation, in
which it is charged that the people are
| threatened with imperialism because of
the autOcratic claims of power by the
courts and the military despotism of the
| Federal Government. He warns Prl-
Vate Dalzell that the argument in favor
! of a foreign war as means of rest Tor
the restless, carries with it the danger
of augmenting the desire for revolution.
y conclusion that has a good deal of
strength in it. be it said.
The value of Sovereign's reply to Dali
zalI is in the warning it gives. and the
note it sounds of a possible danger to
the peace and quiet of the people We
have no sort of fear that the American
people are going to set about cutting
one another's threats as a means to bet
ter conditions; we have no idea that
there VIII be any overthrow Of the Gov
eminent of the republic; but that there
may be attempts in these directions is
possible nay they are not improbable.
But the destiny of the American Nation
lis to proceed upon the lines along which
it has momentum now, directed toward
full achievement of the ends for which
it was projected among the nations of
the earth.
We quite agree with Sovereign that
the desire for a foreign war as a means
to the placating Of the Uneasy, and the
quoting Of the restless is foolish. At
best it would be but an expedient; it
never could be a specific. For such ills
as afflict society there are remedies that
can be applied in peace and under order.
It is not true that the people have
found the ballot useless in expressing
their views. and in debating the policy
Of the nation. Those who hold that
the ballot has failed them are they who
deny the fundamental principle in a
democracy that the majority must rule.
A quotation from revolutionary cir
cular is referred to by Sovereign. to the
effect that because the financial policy
for which Bryan contended was de-
feated at the polls, therefore the people
were denied a victory that was theirs
Of right, because of the Vaccinations of
the interruptions money power" This
simply reflects the threat Of the fanatics
among the Bryanites Of the late cam
paign. The more radical did not hest
tate to threaten revolution in event of
their failure at the polls Altgeld and
his following made no concealment of
their thought and desire, that if the peo-
pie chose Governor Mckinley instead of
Mr.. Bryan, they would testify to their
own corruption and subjugation by
money powers and that revolution
would follow.
When this journal ventured to say
that the preachings of some Of the dis
ciples Of Mr.. Bryan tended to stir up
disorder. to encourage discomfort, to
stimulate assault upon Government and
to invite to revolution. we were rebuked
as unjust!y assailing the motives of po-
litical adversaries. We think now as
then. that behind and underlying the
Bryan movement there was a disturbing
element that is still disposed to bring on
civil war if it can, the thought of which
is abhorrent to patriotic Democrats, and
finds 70 sympathy among loyal Popu-
lists.
But we have entire faith in the ma
tional heart. 1t is sound at the core
The great mass Of the American people
are not unsympathetic with distress, nor
blind to the wants of the needy. Nor are
they shaken in faith in the perpetuity
OF the Union and the ability of the re-
public 10 withstand just such a shock as
AR Sovereign fears it may meet with.
1t is well, however, that Sovereign has
replied to Dalzell. 1t is well that both