Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-01-11

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wonderful doctrine of salvation-scIentifcal
and practically irrefutable though 1t be--i
compelled to gain converts slowly, one by one
condemning without hearing by most people,
its advocates driven from every point of van.
tage-the church pulpit the university hall,
the editorial chair! Nhy, to make Socialism
goi down your progressive American throats,
Awkward Beamy ESQ he said himseO was COM
PEELED to sugarcoat it with the fiction of Look
ing Backward'
These are facts which must bravely be un-
covered to the public's gaze. But, after all,
ain not pessmist. Deporing the present, 7
look forward into this pregnant new century
with joyful confidence.
Ignorance, the passive, yet formidable, ene-
liy of our social liberation, the accomplice OF
all who profit by existing wrongs, is being at
tackled vigorously.
HOW WILL CHANGES COME!
By what means will the inevitable changes
be effected? Will there be universal and vic.
lent uph eaval, period of disorder, followed by
the temporary proeta1ian dictature which many
social experts consider necessary to forcibly re-
incorporate aristocrats and plu.ocrats into the
rank and file? That would be the great French
Revolution, in all its calamites, re-enacted on
a large stage. Yet, the. French Revolution,
now universally approved of,'&as provoked by
lesser evils than thos. which now prevail.
Or will an orderly, legal swift evolution
work out our redemption? ~. =.
My sympathies are altogether for the latter
peaceful methods But nobody can tell
Hbelieve that in less than ten years, we will
see great rents occur in the social fabric, almost
simultaneously on all points. believe that in
less than twenty years, though it were idle to
expect the realization of all we want in that
time, profound political economical and purely
social notifications will have beuered the
world considerably, brought greater total
sum of happiness, made the good things of life
more evenly, therefore more equitably, divided.
II also believe that we soon will abolish the
abnormal privilege of inheriting wealth. 1t
will be abolished on the same principle that
made us republicans already deny the inherit
aihce of the sceptre. The two things are one.
In fact it is much more absurd that young
Vanderbilt or Castellane, with possible COM
merca value of SIS week, should inherit
millions than 1t would be to permit the SONS of
Mckinley or Loubet to rule us because their
fathers did.
And inasmuch as with our present mechan-
lcal and mental equpment--the accumulation
of centuries of common strain, and therefore,
the common property of all men--humanlty
can now produce exactly twenty times what it
can possibly consume, firmly believe that the
outrageous anomaly of human beings wanting
in food, clothes and shelter will disappear early
in the twentieth century.
The twentieth century will also find means
to eradicate the corruption that disgraces the
public life OF all countries, and probably reserve
capital punishment for political knaves alone,
sending other criminals to curative establish
ments and the care of specialists.
The century will see other wonders. What
would be the use of saying more!
But it is the duty of all good hearts and hon
est minds to help toward the accomplishment
of these reforms; at least, to lend willing ear
ITO 'a1gument-to apply sincere effort to the
study of these questions And whosoever rs
content to scoff at the new gospel is a fool;
whosoever treacherously stiles it is criminal.