Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-08-29

~ - - ~ OhSOO1
=. MY opponent complains that have
o1sregarded his line of argument in
my answer. Let US see about that.
He claims (but does not prove to nav
satisfaction) that Socialism would
relieve the farmers and wage work
ers; that only by union of farmers
and laborers could Socialism be
brought about; that-Socialism is in
ternational while Populism is con-
fined to the United States. Now, then,
II 1t could be shown that it would be
practically impossible to make that
union which the second proposition
says is absolutely necessary in order
to get Socialism established then the
whole argument falls. Hence I de-
voted SO much space to that, and 1
claim that I did answer that propo-
sition. In devoting some space to
An attempt to prove that Socialism
would be unsatisfactory if we did get
it, I certainly answered his first propo-
sition. The only one remaining, then,
Is the third one. I did not consider
it of much Importance because I
believe that this nation has a popu-
lation which by education and train
ing in public affairs is far ahead of
the majority of the nations of the old
world, and if such q nation cannot
satisfactorily settle its questions how
can we expect to get help from the
ignorant downtrodden races of most
of the countries of continental Europe?
Those people have had no training in
selfgovernment, and If granted such
extreme power as Socialism contem-
plates they would certainly make a
complete failure of it. If Socialism
ever comes it will be when mankind
has been lifted to a much higher plane
morally and Intellectually than it
now possesses. am just enough of
an American to believe that this
nation can attend to it's own business
without having to wait for the half
civilized people of other continents to
take a hand and help 1t. ~>-',-
Allow me further to state that do
not believe that socialism, populism,
republicanism or democracy, or any
other party now in existence or here
after to be formed will settle these
questions absolutely and so wisely
that the settlement will never need to
be revised. To do that would require
party OF men possessing the quail
ties of divinity. AS long as even the
best of leaders have only finite wis
dom and possess at least some of the
fallings common to humanity they
must continue to make mistakes. And
even if perfect leader should come
where would he get followers that
could thoroughly appreciate his wis
dom and execute without blunders his
suggestions? The Great Nazarene,
whom we all consider perfect, preached
His doctrine of 'peace on earth, good
will to men" nearly nineteen centuries
ago, and mankind has not yet grasped
more than the faintest idea OF His
beautiful teachings. I used to dream,
as most youthful enthusiasts have
probably done at some time, that the
earth could be reformed by law in
short order and q paradise established
here. But I have learned that any re-
form that is too far ahead of the de-
velopment reached by the people will
be failure; that faulty humanity can
not establish faultless systems Of gov
ernment or social order; that the best
we can do is to agitate against some
of the most crying. evils until the
majority Of the people come to recog-
nize it as an evil that should no longer
be tolerated, and then remedy the
matter in the easiest possible manner.
At present l. consider the peoples
party to be the one advocating the
most sensible and effective settlement
Of the questions Of the day. Whether
j II will ever get into power under that
name cannot tell. But I do know
that many Of its principles are gaining
ground. The quantitative theory of
money, which was so mercilessly ridi-
culed at first, is now generally con-
ceded to be right. It is only q ques-
: ton 90 to the means OF increasing the
currency to meet the growing demands
for II. The railroad mergers and the
coal strike have taught millions to
believe that government ownership OF
public utilities may be necessary 70
solve those problems. There may be
I !. re-alignment Of party lines, but |
believe firmly that some measures In
consequence with the populist platform
will ia the not distant future be enacted
by some party q
This, Of course, y not germane 70
the auesti which says nothing what