The Delta independent., 1904-01-29
How the Foolish and Weak put to
Shame the Wise and Strong.
Communicated

sho declares that the revolution against
the mother country was brought about
by the people without property-tbe
working class. The same historian al.
leges that the majority OF the property
holders and the educated class we're .op-
posed to the revolution, but that 1t was
forced upon them by those who had
nothing to lose and everything to gain
The writer OF the article adds il this is
true it simply proves that the igorant
and property less classes Of the revolun-
tary times were wiser 10 their day and
generation than these who looked on
them with fear and contempt. That the
historian and writer above mentioned
are right 10 their allegations is undoubt-
edly true. The Torys 80 thoroughly des-
pissed the property holders that a major
ity OF them disposed Of their property
and returned TO England or emigrated to
| Canada.
The writer before mentioned seems to
think that this is an isolated case or that
it has no psrellel in history. Ia this he
is undoubtedly mistaken. All move,
mepts for the political and industria'
benefit OF the masses OF the people ori-
ginated with the common people, and
was opposed by the rich and educated
with few solitary exceptions. For ex
ample the chartists movement in Eng
land IN lSi0 and 1850 was purely a work
ing class movement. And it is hard to
understand the wild and fierce denunci.
atoms which greeted the leaders OF this
movement by the press and the property
owners Of that time. And what were
the demands OF the cbartists at that
time. Annual parliaments. Universal
suffrage. Vote by ballot. Abolition OF
the property qualification for membe
ship in parliament. Payment OF mem
bers. Equal ELECTORAL districts. 1t is
hard 10 realize at this age aud time that
such moderate demands were met with
such fierce resistance by the educated
and rich and tnRt Ei nest Jones one OF
prison and all most beaten aud starved
10 death because he advocated such mod
crate reforms.
In France before the revolution the
working people were 10 a chronic state
OF starvation. the government through
taxation took one third Of what they
produced and the church one third.
leaving one third for their own subsis-
tance. which at that time meant semi
starvation, but it was this class. Saus
Cullottes tmen without trousers) the
Proletsriat, the working class that
brought on the revolution and broke
down feudAiism and gave us modern
France.
Benjamin Kidd in Social Evolution, |
popular edition. page 2l2, says that the |
educated and rich opposed every reform |
in England for the benefit OF the people. |
Hall Game. the great novelist, saS that /
the press and pulpit have always and do 4
yet oppose the interests OF the masses.
Victor Hugo and Count Lyof Tolstoi the |
greatest OF modern writers, aver to the |
same fact. And our own immortal Lin
coin had implicit faith in the cummon
people. A few years ago at meeting OF
the editorial association Of New York
City the president OF the association in
his opening address said I'VE editors are
Intellectual prostitutes, our ideas are
bought and sold aud il we told the whole
truth we could not hold our position for
a day.
10 the early history Of the movement
Tor the emancipation OF the slaves in this
country we find the educated and rich |
with but few exceptions in opposition.
Daniel Webster stood up in the United
States senate with a bible in his arm
and said this u my authority for slavery.
Preachers all over the country used the
same argument until the rebellion when /
there was division in the church those
OF the North favoring the emancipation
generally and those OF the South favor
ing slavery. In the early mo vement to |
be an aboli;ionist was to face social os-
tacism and even death. Loveioy OF Hi
nois was hanged by mob for publish
ing an abolilionist paper. William Lloyd |
Garrison was saved from the same fate
by the mayor OF the city OF Boston and |
the mob was composed OF the business |
men OF tho city. the respectable class
that love law and order when it suits |
them. But why multiply the argument.
II has always been thus and will prob
ably remain 80. The party OF progress |
will in the future as in the pas, be the |
common people. Their methods may be
crude and violent aud often Unjust but |
their instincts are right. The social ev
olution OF the past has been from be-
meath upward and will 50 continue.
We see much in the papers nowadays
about law and order, dcnouncing work
ing men for intimidation and violence
and other unlawful acts. Let us see
what example is set for the people by
those that prate about law and order. |
We see corruption in high places Postal
scandals. the buying by bribery OF seats
in the United States senate. the W hole
sale corruption OF state legislatures aud
city councils by bribery. The aversion
and intimidation OF voters by individu-
ais and corporations. II there are bribe |
takers there must be also bribe givers,
and bribery Is almost universal in this |
country Tor instance st. Louis. Minueap-
oils, New York, Pittsburg. Philadelphia
and other cities, and who are the bribe |
giversr The great corporations and rich
individuals who want favors granted.
Tha s,Nrt,ta hn tplL ~, .,,,h - L..