Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1902-05-14
DAY. MAY 13, 100;
PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATISM.

PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATISM.
atism is a good thing, pro-
vided it is of the right kind. There
is one form of conservatism that hangs
on to old customs, systems and laws
simply because they are old. 1t never
stops to inquire whether there is any
thing better. This conservatism is
dangerous. The world moves, and
the social systems and laws that were
the best a hundred years ago may be
entirely outgrown today. And when
we have outgrown them they will be-
gin to press and chafe some OF the
people until they become, uncomfortable.
The petrifel conservatism that op-
poses any change when it comes to
that point invites revolution, by
ballot or by sword as the case may
be. but in either case sudden and vlO-
lent and liable to cause a great
deal of trouble. True conservatism
opposes change that is proposed
without reasonable grounds. 1t stud
les conditions to see whether the old
is good enough or needs remedying.
If the latter, it seeks the remedy with
the same care, not jumping at the first
one proposed, but carefully weighing
each plan until it has found the one
that seems most reasonable, most con-
sonant with the tendencies of the
times.
Social changes come in spite OF
laws, and it is absolute folly to op-
pose the current by legislation. The
proper thing to do is to so direct the
current as SO to procure the greatest
good to the greatest number.
We are today standing face to face
with one of these social evolutions
that present serious question for the
government The era of competition
is hopelessly past. We may talk
against it as much as we can, it will
not alter the fact. The invention O.
labor-saving machinery has changed
social conditions. It annihilated in
dividulism, and brought on the reig1
of capital. This produced first bittel
competition, then combination. Thi:
process has gone on for long time
slowly at first, but gathering moment
um every moment until it has become
Irresistible. Restrictive laws hav'
proved unavailing. Today a doze'
men virtually control the industrial
and commercial world of America
They can dictate rates on all the biz
railroad systems. They can make tn
money market easy or tight at thei
pleasure. In short, they are far NOR
powerful for good or evil than man,
crowned monarch.
i What shall be done? This is tn
burning question of the hour. It mus
be solved in satisfactory manner
II a safe and conservative remedy i
not found the people will get restles
and may cause social revolutio
that may bring on greater evils tina
those we are facing today. True cor
servatism will recognize the fact tina
the competitive system is played OF
as far as great undertakings is cor
cerned. The competitive system ha
been found ina !equate to new cond
tions and we cannot bring it back
What is the remedy?
The republican party is not tn
father of the trusts. They are a pei
fectly natural outgrowth Of the time!
But it has carefully nursed and paml
cred the trusts, and is therefore r,
spopsible for having brought them
maturity little earlier than woul
otherwise have been the case. True
it has once in a great while passe
restrictive legislation, but the trus
have exercised restrictive inauen<
over the executive officers that ke]
them from enforcing the laws. TT
real leaders of the republican part
today are apolcgists for the trust
They say as we do that these gig
combinations are the natural resu
of the Industrial era we are in Il
80 midst of. But they stop there. The
reason that competition is a cos
ly warfare that can be avoided
alton, but they forget that b
4 man nature is so constituted that
cannot be trusted with unlimite
power. If the republican party
q maintained in power it will allow Il
y process to go on without directing i
course. This is the dangerous co
serv atism that will not interfere wi
anything old, but lets events sha,
themselves. True, the president
making inquiries concerning trust
but he proposes no remedy except Il
ting the people know what the trus
are doing. AS they know a gre
deal about that before, we fail to S
what good publicity will do. T.
trusts will not become good becau
they are watched. They will simp
become more careful in the select,
OF the candidates of the party tn
want to see in the control of the reig