The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-10

sGulr OF Mexico to the Arctic circle. - It
is the most natural thing in the world,
and that gives it a great deal more than
the filmy texture of dream.
Governor Durbin on Collectivism.
One Of the most impressive speeches
made at the Chicago Day celebration
Yesterday was that Of Governor Dur
bin Of Indiana on ."The American
Spirit" in which he portrayed with
many serious warnings the lapse Of
indivtdualism and the growth of So
cialism or couectivism, enlbodying the
substitution of governme control
of human activities for Individual eff
fort and competition. n
The governor finds in the growth Of
this tendency an imminent menace
and a potential popularity" in such
fallacies as to the powers of govern
ment as were proclaimed in the Chi
cago and Kansas City democratic
platforms, andth cites the declara-
ton Of the New Y ork democrats last
year favoring government. ownership
and operation Of the coal measures.
The governor might have referred
to the considerable number of schol-
arly professors in our colleges and
universities who, like the PROFESSIONAL
socialists of the chair" in Germany,
have been playing an important part
as champions Of the initial stages of
socialism, standing on the outer
purlieus of the social camp. In view
of the socialistic menace Governor
Durbin says: .. 81 ..
We need, in the face of the challenge
which socialism offers to Americanism,
a better understanding of the purposes
and principles which find expression in
our form of government and deeper de-
votion to them. That devotion must take
form in something higher than the mere
assertion of rights-it must find express
sion i'll the recognition of the obligations
of citizenship far transcending the mere
letter of the law: we need to better un-
derstand that the demands of patriot
ism are as binding and its qualities may
as nobly be displayed in the private rela-
lions Of industrial life as. on the field Of
= battle. .s,.. Il .-.-
This is a delineation of the highest
form Of the American spirit, which
has always been quickened in great
national crises, even when patriotism
has apparently lapsed to the condition
of EzekiePs dry and inert bones. The
touch of the quickening spirit stirs
) the dry bones to achieving life in the
renewed flesh. The tendency Of ex-
l IRENE and radical political move
$ ments is to subvert and subdue the
: independent powers which act as
r check and counterpoise to each other
$ and to set up the state as a common
e master of the property, votes and des
tiny Of the whole community. Blu
r this spirit of subversion of many O.
! the strongly established truths O.
. political economy and governmental
: science has certainly not reached tn.
: point III our country where the natio,
S is blinded into tacit acceptance of tn
: revolutionary program. .s'>"<
e It is true that the socialistic labo
a element ingthis country has espresso
e it's approval of capitalistic com bina
e tons on a large scale to increase tn
, efficiency Of Industrial and CONNER
s cial activities, as :agstep toward tn
Z ultimate assumption by the state of al
7 business, Transportation and indus
e trial activities but they are countin
e on "a sequence practically impossibl
Il in this country. The enormous groWt
and expansion ri; Of modern bushes
has necessitated strong combination
= to- conduct it., and, concurrently wit
IS the changed methods, the America
:. public have demanded adequate pro
g lection from the abuses of corporal
y combination and the first steps i
- legislation to effect this have bee
- takens and the watchful public wi
- require more. -, --.a..3 ....
~ The fate of several false theorie
= and delusive expectations introduce
in this country: during the last thir
2 of a century suggests that the delu
sion Of the socialistic state and tyrar
at ny will be dissolved, if it becomes
,v substantial menace to the integrit
he of this republic. The curate and bal
he Der in Don Quixote,' who undertoo
y to remodel the state and produced
ed grotesque monstrosity, are found
lis this country as in Others but the
no statecraft "dies a-bornin'." The O.
< Guard is still on duty and will steat
tasty stand where duty calls. -.