The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-07-21
A Bit Pessimistjc,

LultOT lnHepenQent. l write eX-
temporaneously, but have come to
look upon great majority Of the peo-
pie, as we'll as political leaders, as
being dishonest, as longing for, and
really expecting, that some day,
something will turn up that will en-
able them to get some kind Of an Of
flee. You, | know, have noticed that
they are easily swayed to the mean
side of question, even turned back
to the old wallow by slight influence,
against those who are their true
friends and helpers For instance,
they stick to gold and silver with the
same empty stariness that people did
in the time of Solomon. We try to
improve in everything else, but not
in our monetary system.
The people delusively stick to the
idea that "all will come out right" it
has always been SO and always will be-
and all such dreggy, musty, sepulchral
refuse. We often hear the remark ap-
proyingly made that "a little war will
help things" and we living in land
that has a school house on every hill
top, and church in every Valley
dislike to entertain the thought,
but does not such sentiment cause
the thought that these good people"
are not far from the highwayman,
from the assassin, from the-oh! let
me stop!
A bad financial system, fostered by
all civilized 60 governments, is the
bane of proper lives, because it is the
most bland and greatest thief extant.
My good brother my sympathies are
with you, but am not able to devote
time and money for the benefit of
those who will not help themselves;
for those who try to strain the mud
from the stream, instead of driving the
old, old hog out of the spring.
Yours for all that is right,
J. S. STEWARD.
Gratis, O.
(This is the inevitable frame of
mind which will be reached by every
man who disregards self-interest as
one of the important factors not only
in politics, but in every other human
activity. The attempt to place poll
tics or anything else upon purely
idealistic. altruistic sentimental plane
is sure to cause reaction. Mr.
Steward doubtless started out with
the idea that men are hungering and
thirsting for lofty idealism and that
once they should be told the truth,
they would flock TO that standard by
the millions.
Christianity itself is living exam
pie of the slowness of spreading al
truistic ideals. If every man would
live up to Christ's Sermon on the
Mount, then indeed would the king
dom of heaven be at hand. But every
man will not do so He cannot be
compelled to. The absurdity of an
enforced altruism needs no comment.
Populism Is not a scheme OF altTu-
ism. but q plea for justice. And JUS
tice does not consist In attending to
the other fellows affairs and allow
ing some other 10 attend 10 ours. Let
every man look 20 his own feet to
avoid the ordinary little stumblings.
Corporation lis only necessary when
the feet OF many are simultaneously
threatened.
An enlightened sclf-intcrest Is the
dominant note In populIsm. Why
should populists demand reform in
the monetary SYSTEM Simply that
the wealth producers may be free
from the present robbery which re-
suits from allowing some individuals
TO control the circulation 10 the detri-
ment OF others. Altrnism would aug-
gost to the robbed that they make no