The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-10

civilization produces in abundance, seem
/ scarcer to the majority of eur fellow
| beings?
Economic ssisms.''
| To this problem, of the existence of
/ want in the midst OF plenty, many solu-
! tions have been offered. Among others.
there are the extremes of socialism and
| anarchy.
Socialism would abolish want by turn
| ing over all productive enterprises to
the immediate control of the govern
ment. 1t would relieve poverty by gov
ernmental regulation and by turning So
ciety back into a state of abject mill
fancy. IL would destroy competition
and establish cooperation in its place.
Production for use would he substi-
tuted for production for profit Private
enterprise would make way for public
enterprise and individual effort operate
for society, instead of for self Such is
the dream of the socialist.
Anarchy. the antithesis of socialism,
would establish the millennium by abol-
ishing all government of man by man
To it the greatest obstacle is the uni
Nersal belief in the necessity of govern
ment Abolish government and, &C
cording TO the anarchist, the poverty of
the masses and the inordinate wealth
of the classes will cease to perplex the
philanthropist and the statesman. To
anarchist would trace all our woes; but,
fortunately, anarchists are few and far
between in America.
Tax land values" says the single
taXer and the earth will bloom and
Involuntary poverty will no longer exist
TO threaten the very existence of our
social fabric"
According TO this theory, all the evils
in our social system will disappear,
when the land is returned TO society.
The protectionist asserts that our only
salvation lies in a high tariff and in
the protection of American labor from
the competition of the pauper labor of
Europe.
The tariff for revenue democrat as
stoutly holds that protection is hum
bug; and the free trader as positively
asserts that the protectionist and the
tariff for revenue democrat are both
humbugs, that the maladjustment in
the social order can not be properly re-
adjusted until absolute free trade is es-
tablished the world over.
The prohibtionist declares that, so
long as the saloon is tolerated, poverty
with all its concomtant evils, VIII con-
tinue to plague us.
The bimetailist wants the money of
the constitution and boldly proclaims
that unless we get it. prosperity cannot
return.
The panacea of the monometallst is a
sound currency-'a dollar good the
world ever"
The civic federationist. the last star
to appear in the realm of social reform
adjures us to avoid practical politicians
and blaZons forth the motto, municipal
government is business, not politics..
The earnest student of social prob
lens, finding 50 many conflicting theor-
les, as to the proper solution of the
question of involuntary poverty, may
IL tot hn fnts1 nlt I'M in
this doctrine or in that doctrine, will be
found cure for all our social ills.
The popular conscience Of the United
States has been shocked and staggered
by the public proceedings in politics. re-
ligion and finance, for the last % years.
The practices of our representatives
in state and federal governments have
been such as to bring the blush of
shame to the cheek Of every advocate
of a republican form of government.
Men have become so corrupt that
they do not hesitate to place in office
men who have been defeated at the
polls. While we are continually wit
Messing shameless and unblushing cor
ruption of suffrage by men in exalted
positions. that must bode dire evil to
the government.
In religion we have had the most
rampant chalatanism that ever cursed
any nation or any people The range of
tNll lilIiutIitC btt1l NIlts SotiliIluh-
ism. Panthesm, Free Loveism. Eclectic
ism, Christian Scienceism, Transcen-
dentalism, Liberal Christiansm, Spir-
itualism, anti-Catholicism, Dfabolism
and other outlandish isms" which It
would tire you to enumerate.
OF finance, the depressed condition of
the country. the strikes. which have so
recently convulsed the industrial world.
and the want of business confidence,
speak for themselves.
To condense our present financial SNe-
tenn and it's practical workings into u
definition. / would describe Il rs i de-
liberate and ingenious system for en-
riching the few.
Common Sense of the People.
In the midst of such conditions 1t is
little wonder that mems minds have
sought to evolve a system that would
more nearly equalize the distribution of
the good things of earth.
That the systems evolved have been
only partial Successes is evident from
such attempts TO meliorate existing con-
ditions as Dehsism, CoXeyism. Pingree-
ism and numerous other kindred lsn's."
IT, therefore. amidst this pandemo-
mum of "isms' in politics. religion and
finance We have not become a nation
of raNing lunatics. it is because here
is an ineXhaustihle fund Of good hard.
invulnerable common sense among the
masses ol the people. mis- co nln'ln
sense alone has kept the masses ef The
people from following the example #
more illustrious men, in setting all Jaw
at defiance and oYeiturning tn ttv-
eminent
Men who defy and set aside courts OF
justice and law itself must expect -
reap as they have seWn. Some 81 The
men who We're loudest in go ldemning
the strikes and riots which have &C.
CURED during the past year. because
they We're against capital. we're the
very ones who, in the early 'eCs,
preached the sacredness of mos lax.
when they recommended the use of
Colts reviewers and Sharpe's rifles in
Kansas,
Men are being taught in this country.
/ not the sacredness of law but the sa-
Credness Of lawlessness. and are putting
il into practice with a vengeance Ana
their sins are not 50 great as thu sins Of
the men Who taught them, hv nreccpt
=,