The labor world., 1899-05-06
IF THE DEVIL CAME
TO AMERICA.
By ID A Petre.
OF many years ago book

or many years ago a DOOk ap-
II peared in this country which
l. was widely read, not only on
this side of the Atlantic bat abroad
the civilized world: ''lf Christ Came
to Chicago
The 1>.ader would at first glance re-
treat from and condemn the author
for his irrelevancy, but after reading
the book through by lines and sem
tences he is led into thoughtful lab
arinth, and on the appearance of day
light has overcome his apparent night
mare, only to discover the real appari-
tions. The author of this drastic eX-
position of the city of Chicago, one of
the marvels of the age, is possibly a
picture not overpainted. Succeeding
generations are always those which
fully appreciate the efforts of men of
thought and adventure, men who have
advanced ideas both for the present
and future benefit Of their fellows.
But if after Mr.. Stead's notions the
city of Chicago was such hotbed,
such a Sodom was and which the Lord
Himself condemned, what would his
Satanic majesty have to remark
should he perchance land in America
and visit other cities!
Where would be his abiding place,
where his Astoria? If Christ, accord
ing to Mr.. Stead's version, found Chi
cago so corrupt? Possibly the
Ecvil would find himself in warmer
places as compared to the torrid zone
when he reached the Capitol. In this
place of y & = we will now for
a time abide, waiting for the next
administration to lift the scales from
the eyes of an unsophisticated people.
The drop scene slowly rises and an en-
lghtened audience beholds a spectacu-
lar, and applautls, the orchestra of the
administration, with all it's chords, ,and
frequent dscords (Which latter are
largely drowned by a sub: idized press)
are awestruck! The play begins with
the usual American introduction of
Political Ballot Dancers (something
to catch the dear voter). "Ladies ana
Gentlemen:-It is not our intention
to waste your time with idle plati-
tudes; for the purpose of this meet
ing (or play) is to keep you honestly
amused, and at the same time to di-
vert your attention from the facts at
issue. There appear to be in this
audience many honest sons of Toll
(working for the .capitalists). God
bless them; it is to these people, these
honest people that we appeal; their
votes are worth more 10 us (boodling-
politicians) than all the rest we can
scrape together. Get into the band
wagon, boys, and when congress con-
venes call for your change.
And the Devil was sore vexed at the
end of the first act, and vowed that
if the closing scene was not illumin
ated with more glowing colors his
own habitation would still hold SUI
premacy. But the curtain drops; the
giddy retire to satiate their varied APP
petites again, to return to more wan
ton scenes. There is flashed over the
wires of the country the news that
our statelyw arship, the Maine, has
been blown up in the harbor of Ha-
vana presumably by Spanish intrigue
(and possibly at the instigation of Gu
ban officials anxious to bring about
American interference.) But leave
this to history to decide; hundreds of
noble men reach their heavenly home
by means of a watery grave; widows
and orphans are left 10 mourn and ever
mourn the formidable effects of 4
mine. The whole country has been
convulsed, men fly to arms to revenge
their dead; money as we'll as men are