Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-11-06
THE PEOPLES HOPE.
DEMOCRACY TO BE PRESERVED
THROUGH DIRECT LEGISLATION.
Demos Cannot He United on Con-
g1OmerntiOn of Issues - The Bis
mnrckinn Method, Triumphant Now,
Must Not He Allowed to Endure.

lSpcclal Correspondence
Some day without trumpet's call
This news shall DER the world be blown:
"Thc heritage comes back TO all;
The myriad monarchs take their own
II. W. Higginson.
Brutus and Cassius became irritable
toward one another when ready to
stake all on decisive battle with the
strong young Caesar. Divisions occur
in the ranks Of the hard pressed and
the defeated for physiological and
psychological causes. In no country can
Demos, the people, present united
front to Aristo. Conditions favor the
thought of revolutionists, and their
temperaments and the temperaments
Of moderate reformers are so different
that they injure one another perhaps
us much as they help one another.
To the dlettante students Of social
science the conflict of opinions is enter
tanning. 1T would be a dull world" :"
they say, "if we all thought alike" But
1t is not so entertaining to those who
dread tyranny and wha know that the
neglect of public affairs by a single
generation, the determination of sin
gle leader with mems loyalty to him,
have often reversed the movements to.
ward democracy.
Our great military revival which has
long been agitated for by the enemies
Of labor is like the beginnings of the
present system In Europe by Bismarck
and compels all Europe to dwell in
armed camps. When the German cham
bers rejected the bill for reorganizing
the army, Bismarck advised William to
prorogue the chambers, silence the
press and reorganize the army as he
pleased. A close study Of our own re-
organization will reveal as little Of the
democratic spirit and as much of the
imperialistic.
Do the American people really desire
that their constitution be used for play
ing thimble rig games and that the
blood mortared foundation stones Of
the republic should be used for foot
ball played by plutocrats? Do the
American farmers and laborers wish to
pay for the conquest Of cheap laborers
to be used against their own labor in
n competition which will profit the
monopolists who play the games?
Is it possible that the returns Of one
election could mean that besides gold
monometallism and high tariff the peo-
pie want bank paper substituted for
their own, freight determinations by
the common carriers" to build up
trusts, ship subsidies to favor a ship
ping trust, reaction from civil service
reform, vast army and navy prepara-
tions, conquests, broken pledges to
weaker peoples and heartless, head
strong. mendacious, strenuous livers
elevated to high places where their
| rudimentary savagery can be dis
played?
Some OF these things the people wish
to vote for, but it is preposterous to
suppose that they would not register
them if there were any opportunity to
do 1t. Our enemies are not sensitive
They feel plenty of assurance, and they
work fast to bind heavy burdens on
the backs of men," LET us work fast,
gentlemen" said Bismarck. Let us
place Germany in the saddle. She will
know how to ride"
Despite the very extensive control Of
the press by plutocracy and despite
the dismissals for social and political
heresy from places of influence we find
thinking men and women everywhere
aware that democratic institutions are
In great danger.
The reply to the question whether
such democracy as we have will be
wiped out or will become strong and
pure is found in this fact:
The initiative and referendum idea,
imported from Switzerland about ten
years ago, is already in San Francisco's $
new charter, where the people have
awakened to new hope with regard to
controlling their municipal administra-
ton. Constitutional amendments have
given the initiative and referendum to
Utah and South Dakota, and Oregon
has passed 1t through two legislatures
ready for a vote by the people in the
autumn election.
| Just as the secret ballot, imported
from Australia, first adopted in the
corrupt city of ST. Louis, spread with.
out much regard to party lines the iul-
tlatiye and referendum spreads and
fills a long felt want
The bare possibility that the people
may veto an obnoxious measure or may
initiate a measure without the advice
and consent of politicians of any party
is an Impulse to every phase of democ.
racy such as has not been known even
| in America. 1t comes without muc)
noise, but we shall soon feel the iuI
| pulse ELLA ORMsBY.
| New Salem, Mass.