The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-06-28

,uT NdllOu 5 DlIlu VIC iAuoe ooh t'AA''
question seriously. The greatness OF our
does not depend upon the extent
If territory or volume of commerce. 1t
depends exactly and entirely upon that
question of the stir ng battle song o. the
Republic.
Is this land of the free and the brave?
Have we become nation of thieves?
Does the public conscience no longer re-
spond to great moral questions?
Have our religions become largely
matters of p1etense and ostentation?
Is the business world as rotten as for
years The political world was said to be'
These are serious questions; not to be
considered light y, neither with haste to
condemn nor with honied words to excul-
pate.
The majority of US have an abiding
faith in the republic. We love it. We
have the faith that comes from loving
The faith that the mother has n her way
ward son, that her great love for him
must, somehow, gain the victory and re-
claim him to a better life. And yet,
in spite of mothers love and tears
and prayers. there is many a p:odigal who
has not returned many son whose evil
course has ended only with the grave.
Patriotism, love of country, alone will
not suffice to save the Republic. We
must have honesty. we must have sincerity,
we must haye public con cience
that will aid and abet the law, not a
conscience that condones the half discov-
cred crime and tenders wreaths of laurel
10 successful criminals.
The conclusion of the civil war aud the
immediate opening of the resources OF
marvellous country gave opportunity for
private greed aud lust for gain such has
not been equalled since the Vandals
sacked the Imper al city of Rome Vast
public domains hay- been conhscated to
private use, railroads have robbed ard
pillaged only to be robbed and plllaged in
with such giant strides, that, astonished at
their growth, no pains has been taken to
examine into the manner of their growing
Solos al insurance companies mutual "
companies, have used the peoples money
as their own Standard oil. the growing
glory of the competitive system, has at
tanned Titanic proportions through sece ct
rebates and the ruthless crushing out of
rivals. Solid business men have corrupt
ed the politics of the country in the
cities, the states and the Nation The
graft that begins with the tax dodger and
the shirker on public roads, extends into
every branch of trade and commerce and
politics until the thoroughly honest man
has become the exception not the rule.
That Competition is the life of trade, .
is the basest lie that ever deceived a
civilized people. Competition as we
have it to-day is but premium set on
dishonesty. Competition i, the father of
graft and the mother of the sweat shop.
1t takes the food from the mouths of
babes and forces children into lives OF
toll Ii is the recruiting officer for jails
and peniteniiaries and houses of ill-fame
1t extends from the highest to the lowest.
1t forces the best and most honorable
employer to meet the methods OF the
worst and the most dishonorable, if he
wishes to maintain himself 1t bril- gs
disrepute even unto the house of God
itself, for in the mad race to have the
| largest church, the most eloquent pastor
the finest choir, the greatest reputation
for generosity, the fault of the rich mem.
Der is over looked and, as in the case O
Rockefeller, even condoned and canon
lied.
/ So sacred has become the competitive
system in the eyes of many that any at
tack upon it is denounced as socialism, a
property
What is the railroad pool but privat
socialism fof the benefit of the partici
pants? What is the theory Of the trust
except the theory of socialism applied
4 not to the public good, but to privat
gain? What is legitimate socialism ba
/. theory Of community of interest ap
piled to the people as whole3 Compel
ton is waste. Waste of energy, waste 0
moral fibre, waste of lives and waste o
heart blood. There is no competition il
any of the works of nature. There is n
competition in the human body. TIL
right hand does not strive against the left
There is no competition in the we'll regu
lated machine. When two locomotive
collide, head on, that is competition, sue
as we have today; when they work &c
gether. pulling the heavily laden train
that is co-operaticn as we should have il
That is the spirit of the pool, the trus
the community of interest," that is tn
spirit of the right kind of socialism.
We have let our thoughts carry u
,dr;Gt Wa ara not raadv tn oin ~,