Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-05-21
MUSINGS OF Fl MOSSBACK.
Written FOR Industrial Freedom.


Reformers should see to it that the
war is not allowed to interfere with
propaganda work.
Those who are at the front will
need reading matter to while away
the dreary hours of bivouac. Re
formers with means should see that
they get the right kind.
Maybe you can't donate 4 yacht to
your country as Astor did. but just
figure close and see if you cannot
send a five cent book on sociology to
the front
Anent that yacht don't see that
it was such great thing to do. I'll
cheerfully give the same percentage
of my wealth to the cause--if Uncle
Sam has change for a cent.
A certain man was patriotic and
bought flag and flung it to the
breeze, and 1.-The winds rose and the
floods descended" Next morning the.
staff was striped with crimson and
blue and the grass discolored. Think
ing some one had tried to tear down
the flag and been shot in several
spots, he looked up to assure himself
of the safety of the emblem only to
see a tattered emblem of truce. 1t
was competitive flag buile for profit,
not for patriotism, and all he had
to show for his outlay was BARRIERS
sign and discolored lawn.
The "Old Veterans Reserve" re-
cruited from the wearers of the gray
as well as the blue. is an excellent
idea. Our country must be in sore
straits indeed, before it needs to call
upon these heroes of thousand hard
fought fields: but it marks the pass
ing of the "bloody shirt" politician
and is cause for thankfulness.
If the war is to be rushed through
so as not to be an issue in the fall
campaign by sending unacclimated
troops to Cuba, then | vote nit. Bet
ter delay" it 70 work republican sue
, cess than to turn our brave boys over
to the mercies of yellow Jack"
The administration was slow
enough about getting into it, God
knows. If they can get any partisan
advantage, and are mean enough to
take it, we should not grudge it to
them.
The Inns" would like to make the
people believe that patriotism means
not only obedience to the laws and
the constitution. but an unquestion-
ing belief that they" are the best
that can be had.
This is all "hoodoo." The republic
can party, in its honest infancy, not
only agitated against chattel slavery.
then a constitutional custom, but
abolished it, and raised its hand
against the constitution" and struck
out the obnoxious section. and now
by George, it brags about it. Oh, it
makes a mighty big difference whose
OK is gored.
So far from being unpatriotic.
many of the highest examples of pa
triotism have taken the form of cru
sades against the established order of
things.
So far from property being sacred,
it is frequently the reverse. 1t de-
ponds upon the property.
The cares of business, allurcments
of pleasure and pursuit of wealth
tend to make men forgetful of deyo-
ton to country" DO they? The re-
medy a "whoop her up" celebration
each 18th of July. Hum well. How
easy anything Is that Is easy.
UNION THAT DIs-UNITEs.
The purpose of Ministers Unions"
must be to map out an organized cam
paigu against the forces of Satan.
Why each returns to his isolated for
tress the church of his particular
creed to carry on the battle is too big
a guess for me. | do know the feeble
and scattering Are he keeps up from
its dismantlcd bastions strikes some
good brother" twice for every time
it hits the devil once.
How the promoters of union" that
brings about such results can look
each other in the face without laugh
ing beats me.
If they really take this united ac-
tion seriously, pardon me if | smile.
If the only motive that | can see is
that seven or eight half loaves, in the
way of church support, are consider
ed better than one whole one, it Is be-
case have looked in vain for any
other.
Imay be unjust, (ungenerous, | hope,
never to the ministerial fraternity.
| confess to deep and profound mis-