The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-01-14

B1OnS In regard 60 IL. H46W10SB Oh
the side of abstract doctrine, it no
longer represents an issue upon
which propagandism is required. =
In the complete achievement
of those reforms for which Jefferson
~oOntended Is found the reason for
much of the cropping and wavering
of the Democratic party in America
to-day. It is not a phenomenon,
moreover, which is limited to the
United States. In Great Britain,
the same sense of a mission which
has been fulfilled has paralyzed the
energies of the Liberal party, stif1ed
the ambition of it's leaders,, and dis
rupted its ranks, in the face of the
new issues which are coming before
the country. Liberalism in it's
classic sense has, in the political
field, done it's perfect work"
Nor does Mr.. Bryan seem TO be the
one to lead the new Democratic
party Mr.. Conant quotes with ap-
parent approval the following para
graph from the editorial page of the
New York Journal:
"Mr. Bryan, able and patriotic as
he is, is not really modern. He lives
in the past. He has never been able
fully to adapt himself to the eco-
nomic and social revolution that has
changed the face of the world. A
SUPERSEDED financial theory like free
silver appeals TO him more than the
public ownership of railr Dads and
telegraphs, postal savings banks, or
any of the other pressing needs of
the twentieth century"
These advanced measures will
probably find many other people to
whom they will not appeal, and Mr..
Conant says on this point:
"While any step toward State
socialism will undoubtedly be like a
red rag to a bull, in many quarters
and this i~ntolerant temper will be
fostered for political ends by the
party of positive policies-there is
nothing in a moderate program of
this kind TO alarm the man of prop
erty or even disturb the owner of
great wealth, where it's possession
does not depend upon special favors
from the State. There is not room
in u magazine article to discuss,
even in outline, the reasonable meas
ures of public policy which might be
supported by a party seeking, in the
interests of the masses, to insure for
all equality of economic opportunity.
The sOcialistic features of this pro-
gram, so far as they become prao-
tical issues, will naturally relate TO
the CONTROL of quasi public functions,
like transportation by rail, municipal
lighting and heating, and other
things which can better be done by
concentration and by u single author
ity tnan by several competitors.
Whatever may be the economic
merits of these proposals, they r
not revolutionary in the worst
of the term. The man who advocates
them is not necessarily an enemy of
private property nor a cham lion of
red, handed revolution. The MOST
conservative countries in a political
sense-Great Britain and Germany
have already gone far beyond
American communities in this sort
of State socialism. \ = \ If the
proposal that the government shall
acquire the railways is socialistic or
revolutionary, it is a form of revolu-
ton already achieved in the most
oonser vatlve countries of Europe
Germany, France, Belgium, Switzer-
land, and Russia. Switzerland has
only recently completed arrange
ments for the acquisition of the chief
private lines, and their conversion
into State railways. The telegraph
lines are now controlled by the gov
eminent in nearly every European
country, including Great Britain.
and the functions of the ~postofio.
are steadily encroaching upon tht
business of the express companies.
"How far it will be possible TO-
and conscientious men TO-
serve in the ranks of the popular
If it adopts the tenets of State
socialism, will depend much upon
the particular measures which il ad-
vocates. Two vigorous and evenly
balanced political parties are essen
tial to the healthy growth of a dem
ooratio country. The marty of orn