The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-10-09

)TOBER 9, 1902.
itself felt throughout the newspaper
world. During the past ten years thou
sands of revolutionary papers have
come into existence. One that started
only two years ago already has half
million readers. Many of these papers
advocate a peaceful, industrial revolu-
tion, without bloodshed, by means of
legislation. This country and Europe
are inundated with these papers. They
are like the falling leaves of autumn
innumerable. Others cry for Anarchy,
brute force, anything. They assume
names that denote their mission. Such
as, "The Revolt" Discomfort" "Liber-
ty," "The People," "The Revolution"
"Firebrand," ETC., etc. Sinister and
menacing names!
Russia, France, England, Germany
and America are flooded with revolu-
tionary songs of every description.
Some of these songs, like Markham's,
touch the cold, clear, beautiful heights
of altruistic idealism. Others of a
maudlin and disgustingly dangerous
kind advocate everything that should
be kept down and suppressed. Here is
a sample:
Weep. weep, weep and weep,
For pauper, dolt, and slave!
Hark! from wasted moor and fen
Feyerous alley, sitting den,
Swells the wall of Saxon men
Work! or the grave!
"D0wn, down, down and down
With idler, knave, and tyrant!
Why for sluggards cark and moil?
He that will not live by toll
Has no right on English soil!
Gods words our warrant
Here is another:
''Why is it we toll so?
Where go all the gains?
What do We produce for it,
All our pangs and pains?"
Reader, 1 would like to laugh these
things away, as you may do. But we
cannot. These are facts, iron facts
that cannot be laughed or sneered
away; facts that make imagination
reel before their dreadful significance.
Whittier are we drifting?
VAGUE FLASHES ON THE HORIZON.
And now come to the last part of
my essay. What is the present effect
of all this revolutionary agitationp
We need but to look around us to see
it. Everywhere throughout the civilized
world there are distinct evidences of
the coming storm. During the past
five years England has fought a mighty
war. The combined armies Of Europe
have overrun and stamped out rebel
lion in China. Stamped outp No. not
quite, for even as write another re-
beliion, more formidable than the first,
is rapidly spreading. Japan is making
feverish preparations for her struggle
with Russia. Russia is preparing to
crush Japan and invade India by way
of Herat. France and Germany are
taxing themselves into bankruptcy to
strengthen their armies and navies.
Italy is groaning beneath load of
debt and the people are beginning to
mutter at the king and papacy.
Press dispatches tell us that Spain is
in state of constant unrest Troops
are called out to shoot down rioters
and place cities under martial law.
France must call out troops to enforce
her anti-clerical laws. There are riot
ings in Paris and the provinces. Bel
gium is wrapped in the throes of agi-
tation. Recently there was conflict
between the troops and the masses.
Barricades were erected in the streets
of Brussels and bands of armed men
marched through the city singing the
"MarseiIIaise." The hymn of the Ter
rOr! Reports come of the burning of
chateaus in Russia, Of riotings in Mos
COW and St Petersburg and the prov
inces; of starving peasants, discomfort,
mutterings and the spread of nihilism.
Finland lis on the verge of mad revolt
from her treatment by the Russian
Empire. Roumania is having trouble
in suppressing the Jews and rebellious
peasants. Turkey Is always preparing
for war with the nations whose borders
touch her own. The wisest states
men Of Europe tell as that the Austri-
sn Empire will become disrnpted with
the death Of Franz Josef. Il il only
held tossthes y the sheer toses Of one
|nan,s psrsenality.