The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-03-02
GHEMT vs.. IIBBlEs.
A Washington Correspondent Tries
to Clear up Matters by Quot
ing Tom Watson

Editor Independent: 1t will throw
some light on the controversy which
has been raging in your columns,
might almost say, recently, over quo
tations from W. j. Clients Mass and
Class relative to the socialist theory
or doctrine of economic interpreta-
ton of history" to quote some real
history.
Let us go to real historians and see
if their researches have led them to
think economic pressure determin-
ing motive. | quote from Thomas II.
Matson's STORY Of France relative
to the reformation. Nof the reforma-
ton was a religious movement, yet
every dominent qeustion becomes a po-
litical question ultimately, so the ref
ormation got into politics as the trust
question is now in this country. Yet
if ever the ideal, the true, the right
as you maintain, is to be uppermost, it
should have been in religious move
ment. Mr. Watson says, p. 3s1, vol. /:
Every man is, to a great extent, the
product of his times and the creature
of his environment" Again, PIP. 37S,
379, vol. /:
after yielding to Luther unstinted
praise for his genius, and his courage,
and his devotion to the cause 1.-THE ref
Ormation) we must bear in mind that
he succeeded because the political adj
vantage in the contest was on his side.
In Germany itself the heavy
hand of papal exactions in the way OF
first fruits, tithes, ETC., lay with lntal-
cradle weight. There was universal
feeling that Germany was systematl-
cally plundered to satisfy the rapacity
of the court of Rome. No money ever
came back to Germany from Rome;
once there it stayed there. Hence the
German princes, who were almost inde-
pendent rulers, fretted and grew FESTIVE
under the continual drain OF German
wealth toward Rome Don't
let Rome rob Germany had, probably,
much more to do with rallying the Ger
man mobiles to Luther's cause than all
his ninety-five propositions put togeth-
or. He aroused national pride and ma
tional interest mote welD against for
eign exactions and foreign insOlence,
and this is the chief reason why the
reformation succeeded SO rapidly and
so we'll in Germany"
Again, p. ALI, vol. l: "The Protest
ants, however, made some political de-
mands which are worthy OF note
(speaking now of France. They asked
for financial reform (?), religious toll
Grafton, abolition of the sale OF offices
and the sale of the property of the
church then estimated at 12O,0OO,O0O
livers. The Protestants, having at
that time no church property of their
own, believed that the wealth of the
church would be wisely used If appro-
priated for the payment of the pub
lie debt. The Protestant church of our
own day would hardly be found advo-
eating doctrines of that kind"
Here is impartial scientific history
as told by Thomas E. Watson. Yet no
socialist would go farther in showing
the economic causes impelling men to
act as they did in regard to the ref
ormation. 1t does not invalidate the
ideals that mems interests are served
by the highest and truest.
Yet few, very few, men live up to
true and high ideals when these oppose
their economic interests. Do you ex-
pect to convert a great many Wall