The representative., 1900-05-24

that were to come upon the world in a
hundred years is very charming. There
was to be no competition" and every
person, male and female. young and old,
were to do the work assigned them by
the government and receive q regular
stipend.
1t reminded one of the Irishman's
theory of government: ITO abolish all
taxes and pay the expenses Of the nation
out of the treasury"
1t may be that in future years the
race will be educated up to a point
where Socialism will be practicable. But
it Is not practicable at the present time.
The divorce courts show how difficult
it is for even two persons to live to-
gether in harmony, although under the
influence of strong sexual impulse.
The failure of such experiments as
the Ruskin and other colonies proves
that the more you increase the numbers
the more difficult it becomes to hold
them together.
II there is to be no competition of
man with man and woman with woman
in the struggles of life, then some SUI
perior authority must control every one;
and the question comes: How can we
prevent authority from falling into the
hands of despots and robbers? We
can't do it today. If there is to be no
competition between farmers as to the
price of their wheat and corn and mea+-
then the government must take possess
suit itself, and the farmers, will have
to hold their homes as tenants
ALL THIS MEANS, NOT A POLITI-
CAL REFORMATION OF ABUSES,
BUT A COMPLETE REVOLUTION
AND OvERTURNING OF HUMAN
SOCIETY FROM THE BOTTOM UP
WARDS
Certainly the world is not prepared,
at this time for any such drastic change,
and any attempt to bring it about by
popular vote would meet with over
whelming defeat.
Some such change may be reached in
the course of many ages, but it will have
to be brought about by a slow and
patient education of the masses, through
newspapers. books, lectures, etc.
In all reformations we must insert
the thin edge of the wedge first, and
move along the lines of the least re-
sistance. To form new party based on
total change in human conditions will
simply end in ridiculous failure. In the
Old World the so-called Socialists are
striving for those things which we en-
Joy here; they are not advocating Bel
lamyism or anything like it.
In 1892 the Peoples party advocated,
and still advocates the public ownership
Of public utilities, like railroads, tele-
graphs. telephones, etc. But there is
planetary space between these PROPOSE
tions and the government ownership of
private pursuits. Whenever the nation
comes to own the farms and the black
smith shops and the grocery stores. the
individual is no longer an Independent
citizen, but the tool and serf of some
great scheme, never befora attempted
in this world, and of which no man
can foresee the outcome.
Let us push forward for reform on the
lines OF the Omaha platform, and sus-
tain it by our votes. In the meantime
think out as many profound plans Of
change in earthly conditions as the wit
of man can invent. Let the universal
debate 60 on. Let the public mind he
educated to all new ideas; let facts and
theories be fused and melted in the
great crucible of human experience, and
so when the people are ready TO advance
they can all move together But let us
not reject the bread and butter OF prac-
tical reform because we cannot get the
mince-pie and ice cream Of q change that
would make all mankind angels.
Stand by the Peoples party: it has
gates that lead out in every direction.
It believes in freedom Of thought and
honesty Of purpose. We are clear now
of the Office seekers and we must 20
forward to triumph. I'D.
Cafe. observation and parlor cars On
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