The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-28
Enemies OF Society.

We give place this morning TO COM
munication from Mr.. w. w. DeIong
which exhibits the logical weakness Of
those who sympathize with the Trades
against society by the Bryanites. and
are unable to perceive the connection
when these work out to their natural
consequences In mob violence. The
trouble with them is that they fan to
vective. as between anarchy and re-
form.
No one objects to the discussion Of
evils or an attempt to remedy them.
But all such activity. to be helpful,
must be specific. Point out to the pub
lie the particular offender and his Of
fence. and suggest remedy. Then
the people have a definite case before
them, and evils are disposed of speed
fly. Then you direct public opinion to
the seat OF disease and hence to the
Bryan and his followers that their
phllipplcs are general They arraign
society. rouse class against class. ap-
peal to envy and greed and the worst
passions OF mankind. They do not put
their finger on the wound or point to
the cure. They say vaguely TO all men
who think that they have not their full
desert--and most men think so--that
this Is the fault of n bad system. Hence
the resentment that they arouse, al
though intended 10 be directed against
the party In power. IS really directed
against society at large The average
man In not Il logician, hence these dia-
tribes mean TO him an appeal 10 revo-
tuition and plea for lawlessness. That
IN the direct connection between the
Bryanite or DeT4ong argument and an
arehy
Mr.. belong gives an excellent Illus
tration OF this. as we'll as OF the contra
dictions OF his kind. In his letter. He
invelghs against corporations. Now
every sensible man knows. that corpora
tAbttS utE ar IiltfNtnA III 40aiAs
and effect upon the community as men
are: that they have existed long and
viii continue 20 exist What rational
purpose can any man hope to accom-
plish by denounclng them indiscrim-
inately. except TO strengthen the ami
mus that breaks windowse By all
means let us have corporations re-
strained by the laws and made servants
Of the public interest We shall not
advance one inch upon that road by
general indictments and passionate de-
uunciatlons.
In any exposure Of attempt 70 inhu-
ence eorruptlv public opinion or pub
| lie action we will share most heartily.
Again let us be specific and not vague
~ abusive. In one sentence Mr.. De-
Long tells MS, like atom. Ike mass"
In smother place he tells IA that cor
porations have corrupted legislatures.
suhorned furies and desecrstsd the
sanetity 81 our courts" Now corrupt
( influence implies two parties. the bribed
and the briber. Ana n this work "a so
universal that aEltators despair ~ iih-
erty. then they ,ndlct whole people
Because IN this country W. have no pro-
tected holding class Legislatures.
iuries and courts are az the people. and
exactly what the people make them
let as not execrate the g'ver 4 the
bride ard eNtol the taker. Let Us flght
greed. by al means, bat let Us nght
81 everywhere. re, rs demand gen
ulas reform. and not array class
against class by preaching generali-
ration that has no resemblance 10 truth
when we apply 8, 20 particulars. That
s. the faui, % the Bryanites: it is.
Indeed, crime. FOR IT IS the preamble
% revolution and anarchy.
This gentleman describes Mr.. Bryan
tn these words. "One who. although a
mononaniac. has 50 nouthed his raw
inEs that you have thought you were
! listening TO a representative Democrats
statesman" The error lies In assuming
that there are at this time any Demo
| cratic statesmen. Every man With the
| least prstsnsion TO that title left the