The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-09
LIVE QUESTIONS :
Ex-Governor oJhn +. Altgeld's New
Book.

Live Questions is the title of the
! 900 page book containing the speeches,
letters. papers and messages of ex-Gov-
ernor John p, Altgeld published by Geo.
S. Bowen x Son, Unity building, Chi
cago, handsomely bound. $3.50. There
is no doubt. whatever may be thought
Of his views on this question or that,
of the ability of Governor Altgeld.. He
| is one of the great thinkers of the age.
He does not hesitate TO go to the full
extent of the logic of any question. no
matter what it involves. He is no time
server. no trimmer. no dodger. He
cuts across the grain of popular conyic-
ton if his Investigations condemn popu-
lar conviction as wrong. He has courage
to uproot ideas that are the growth of
a century. In fact he is a revolutionist,
an incarnate protest against social con-
ditions as they exist, and his book con-
tains the best arguments he has made
for radical changes. Among the sub
iects considered in this remarkable book
are such live ones as the following
Trusts and Monopolies. Government by
Injunction, Government Ownership of
| Railways and other public necessities.
Labor and Capital. the Elective System,
i
Finance Tariff. Banking Bill. Laws of
Supply and Demand, Income Tax. POI
lice Courts, Our Penal institutions and
their Victims. Prison Labor, The SUI
preme Court Organized Labor, Mill
tarism Election Frauds, Asylums and
Charitable Institutions. Reasons for
Pardoning the So-called Anarchists,
The Pullman Strike. Tax Dodgers. The
4 C,,l,o, yVar The Db;I;p,.inna ;af
ism. These and a hundred other ques-
tons of pressing and vital Importance
constitute the most notable books of orr
day.
Nobody understands Governor Altgeld.
/ first heard of him as a socialist and the
pardoner of anarchists and formed an
unfavorable opinion of him. About two
years ago, in company with an accom~
lplished lady who had known Governor
rAltgeld intimately in his home life, /
was rather shocked by being asked by
her, Don't you think Governor Altgeld
the best and incest man in the world?''
1t was paralyzing question. for / had
gathered the idea that. while he had
ability. he was not the kind of man
to win such encomiums. ] rather init
mated as much when the lady told me
incidents of his good deeds that made
ne think it worth while to study the
man. Afterwards / had opportunity to
do SO. He is not an attractive man.
He has dyspepsia, and lacks the genial
ity which a popular leader must possess.
He has no grace of oratory, no charm OF
eloquence. no magnetism. He has no
way to reach the people except by ideas.
He thinks clearly and without bias.
He says what he thinks and some OF
his thoughts. are as radical as might
have been expected in Paris before the
FrenehN Revolution They startle you
by their radicalism. but when you exam
inc the argument you are forced to adj
init that it is IA master mind that il
cutting across the grain Of customary
and hereditary beliefs.
The reader of Live Questions" viii
find that it is bottomed upon faith in
the right of the people to rule. and in
faith in the fundamental principles upon
which the Republic was organized. The
believer in the reserved rights of the
State will find it full of information t.
confirm his views. From the first page
To the last it gives cheer and hope Il
those battling for the rights Of indiyid
uals. 1t is full Of phillipics hurled al
those who nave polluted the temple ant
made merchandise Of government ant
when using the language Of denunciatioi
Governor Altgeld uses q vigorous Eng
lish that leaves no doubt of his meaning
He presents in this book n defence Of tn,
pardon OF the so-called anarchists which
is hard to answer His defense Of his
action in protesting against the sendinl
of troops into Illinois during the rule o
Cleveland is the defense Of a statesman
learned in the philosophy Of jefferson
and Calhoun. Though aS.aiCd Il the TIM
for his course. the verdict Of history vii
, he that Altged and moi Cleveland wa
, the true statesman in that hour of peril
There is n pnngency and simplicity o
style about the papers and addresses tina
make them as entertaining ms they ar
5 original and instructive. friend, VIII