Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-04-19
PROPHETS AND PREDICTIONS.

dency of the American government toward
monarchy, may be right as to the tendency, but
in one thing he is mistaken. There will not,
as he alleges, be monarchy within twenty-five
years-not in fifty years-not till after there
has been oceans of blood shed. The American
people will not accept monarchy without the
6ercest struggle since the dawn of history, and
none know better than the plutocrats that
monarchy cannot easily be erected. Plutocracy
is content with things as they are. Plutocracy
has all it wants, under republic. 1t can have
no more under monarchy, unless it would be
empty titles for as yet, there is no serious gov.
ernment hindrance to the hearts desire of that
charmed circle of money-grabers. Plutocracy
will not risk losing the substance in grasping
for crowns and titles. Some time, the pluto
Gratis may inaugurate struggle for the SUBJ
stance, and winning the contest, may erect
throne.
The clash will come, if ever, when some re.
form party wins the reins of government. Till
that time, we may possess our souls in patience,
with whatever money we can manage to hold
onto.
The exasperating condition that confronts us
at present is that majority OF our people are
sleeping under forms of oppression that would
provoke revolution in either Germany, Eng
land or France, in much less time than it will
take to awaken our sleepers.
We have fought two losing camgaigns against
power inimical to free institutions, and at
present, we have no assurance that another los
ing campaign is not before us, in the next gen.
eral election.
Thinking people can readily perceive that
putocracy will not disturb the very pleasant
state OF affairs by moving for any measure or
change that will be likely to awaken the drowsy
millions of wage-earners. The awakening
must come through active agitation. The fact
that so many men like Prof. Hadley are becom-
ing alarmed is one of the cheering signs of the
times, but, IN some respects, the worst that can
happen has already befallen us without many
of our people being aware of calamity.
A constitutional monarchy, under the min
stry of men like John Bright o, William E.
Gladstone, would be happy change from the
government we are under now. It's not the name
under which government is administered, but
the manner. Gladstone and Bright aimed at
exact Justice, with the least possible burdens.
Our government now practices rank injustice,
and its burdens constantly increase. Why our
people-so many of them, at least-think their
interests and "rights" are secure because we
are under the rule of republic is one of the
things past finding out.
Education is the work of the hour. We find
that people have to be trained for all sorts Of
work and action; and what is true in the in
dustrial world is true in the political Men
who blindly follow political leaders must be
taught that in republic, every voter should be
so fully informed as to be able to assume the
position of moulders of political action, instead
of being mere machine for voting purposes.
1t is claimed by some that people are aroused
| through their stomachs. The claim is not true.
1t would be nearer the truth to say that educat-
ors like Hadley were the instruments given
mankind for sentinels, but it would not be all
the truth. We know from history that reforms
do not begin with, and are not carried forward
by, the rabbe. Men who think through their
appetites think no more than dumb brutes. The
true refcrmer must be enlightened, and a man
| OF conscience. AL IeIOII1erS are Heu VI OIodu
humanity, and heroic in their ability to suffer
and sacrifice for others. Reformers are univers-
ity men-not, perhaps, in the sense that Had
ley is, but in that sense of which Lincoln was
an example, aud which is probably best, because
not narrowed or hampered by textbooks, ira
di!ions or precedents.
The man who cannot lift himself cannot lift