Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-09-21
ROAD TO ANARCHY
ANARCHISTIC talk KPROVES futile
IN THIS COUNTRY.
COntemnerS of the Law in High Places
Make Converts to Anarchy. Ex-
pOSure of Wrong Doing by pillars
of Society Brings Demand for
Rigid Law Enforcement.

Rigid Law Enforcement.
The Chicago Inter.O Ocean, a republican
paper, recently printed an interesting
editorial entitled "What Makes An.
archists?" The Inter Ocean said:
can the lies which professional an
archists tell about the cruelty of rich
men in acquiring their riches-all the
lies which they circulate about oppression
OF the poor by the United states govern.
proved futile in this country.
"They have been futile because they
have been lies, or malignant perversions
OF small and unimportant truths.
"But when pillars OF society are ex.
posed as brittle to the core-when men
whom the people have widely trusted
with their fortunes and the future Of
their families, and have believed in as
models OF probty and honor, are found
to be but whited sepulchers-then an.
archy really gains converts and the insti.
tntions OF civilization are menaced.
"The revelations in the Equitable
scandal are making more anarchists to-
day, therefore, than all the anarchist
speeches made and literature published
in this country in twenty years.
"They have brought fear and hate into
tens of thousands of respectable house,
holes. They have go shattered conf
dence in human honesty and decency
that tens OF thousands of men are driven
to the delusion that everything that is,
is wrong. And that is the beginning OF
anarchy.
"Not the lie but the truth is what kills.
That is why the Equitable scandal is
making anarchists"
There is no danger that anarchy will
result from the exposure Of wrong-doing
in high places. While today many crimes
committed by men of influence and
wealth are being exposed, there never
was time when more general and de-
termined demand was made by the peo-
pie for the strict enforcement of law and
the re- establishment Of justice.
These men who have been exposed
we're not "pillars of society,"" they sim
ply pretended they were. They posed
as the defenders Of national honor" aud
pretended disinterestedness in political
affairs and patriotic purpose in the ad.
vice they gave to the people. The people
followed where they led and in following
such leaders the people were going in the
direction of anarchy, as has been shown
by recent disclosures. But when on
every hand we see men giving encourage.
ment to public officials who expose
wrong-doing, and condemning public
officials who seek to conceal wrong.doing; ;
when on every hand we see resolute,
determined public sentiment growing in
strength every day, and ali to the end
that crime shall be uncovered and that
criminals shall be punished, whatever
may be the position OF the wrong -doer-
it is an indisputable sign that the hearts
Of the people are right however wicked
the intentions OF some Of their false lead.
ers may have been.
The good citizens Of Missouri who were
shocked by the disclosures of fraud and
corruption at st. Louis did not become
anarchists. They pinned their faith to
the man who had exposed fraud and cor
ruption and elected him to the highest
Office in their gift.
The Philadelphians who grappled with
the corruptionists in that old Pennsyl-
vania town did not become anarchists,
but they rushed to the support of Mayor
Weaver, VINO stood as conspicuous de.
fender OF law and order.
When the people of Wisconsin were
outraged by the corporations of that
state, they did not become anarchists,
but they gave loyal support to Governor
La Toilette in his gallant fight against
the special representatives Of special in.
terests.
The revelations in the Equitable scan.
dal and the exposures concerning various
men who have posed as the representa-.
tives Of the "business interests" of the
country and have assumed to stand as
the unquestioned champions OF national
honor" are not making anarchists. They
serve, however, to arouse the American
people to the importance Of displaying
interest in their own affairs, in partici.
pating in the selection Of their public
officials, and in guarding at every oppor.
tunity the welfare of the government
under which they live.