Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-02
SPEAKING OF DANGERS.

- AsAAhA&Nb Va Oh4fNLth9f
Almost nifty years ago Macsulay pre-
dIcted that the government OF m
United States would. ultimately, be 10.
stroyed either by the tyranny Of mos
rule or militarisn
IT, referred to the history Of Fran
AZ an illustration. IN lSiS. he said, pur
democracy was established there Asa
result h 'Sas expected that he count.
would become bankrupt RuinOuI tax
were eSacted from the rich. high prc
prevailed, and. undoubtedly, in a few
years France would have sunk down g.
the barbsrous condition Of previous
ages. nut for the Intervention Of des.
po,ism Liberty is gone, but civilian.
ton has been saved Maoauay SAID.
Something similar. he predicted.
would happen iu this country, As long
AZ the laborng population-this was
his argument-has work aud can make
reasonably comfortable living it will
be al ease. But the country win. IN
time, become as densely settled as the
old countries. Wages viii be low and
huotusting Distress WIFI make the la
horers disconnected and mutnous, They
will listen 10 agiiators who point out
the 'monstrous injustice OF one man
owning millions whil' others starve.
Then. he concluded. our government
wiL be unable 20 restrain the rebellious
majority, The day will come when. IN
the state OF New York. a multitude 81
people, none ~ whom has had more
than half a breakfast. or expects 10
have more than half a dinner. viii
choose legislature. Is II possible to
doubt what sort OF legislature will be
chosen? on one side Is a statesman
preaching patience, respect for vested
rights strict Observance Of public
faith; on the other is a demagogue.
ranting about the tyranny Of the capi-
talists and Insurers and asking why
anybody should be permitted 20 drink
champagne aud TO ride IN a carriage
Thle thousands OF honest folk are in
want Of necessaries. Which Of the two
candidates il likely TO be preferred By
a workman who hears his children CRY
for brosd?"
In the spoliation subsequent upon AL. |
tatIon the writer found cause for me- |
givlngs concerning The stability OF |
American democratic institutions.
When society las entered ON it, /
downward progress either civilization 4
or liberty must perish Either some |
Caesar or Napoleon win seize the reins |
Of government ',ith a strong hand, or
your republic viii ~ as fearfully plum
dersd and laid waste by harbarians IN
the twentieth century as the Roman
empire was IN The fifth"
Years have passed since this prsiic- |
ton was made. aud We have entered |
upon the fatal goth century, There ara |
no signs as YET Of any inundation Of 1
Huns and Nandals "-sayages engen- 4
dered by overpopulatlon and low wages
There Is some agitation. hut very little
popular sympathy with agtators whose
selfish aims are bui thinly yelled IN I
gauty phrases Should the predicted I
CONFUSION ever occur. however. Il /
would come with the force OF an ava
lanche or an earthquake When mobs .
take the relns Of government laws 1T. .
trampled under foot. courts are is-
nored. lie ana property are unsafe.
This Is sufficiently proved by the mob
murders that are OF yearly occurrence
In this country But as yet the sane
and safe" element controls the govern
ment In the interest u both liberty ana
civilization. There Is no revolution
from below. and no necessity OF des
po,ism from above.
The dangers that may possibly.
some time confront our institutions are
Of n kind different from those antlci-
patei by the renowned writer quoted.
Combinations may arise strong enough
financially. 20 corrupt both legislatures
aud courts and thus make laws the
instruments n oppression instead o.
the safeguards Of human rights. Tina,
would be ausrchy-uot anarchy In rags
and dark garrets. but the kind ihs,
dons velvet ard silk and inhabits pal.
aces Bigotry allied to this enemy of
free institutions would strengthen the
elemen, of danger. Whenever the time
God forbid that 10 eyel
shouli'-thst plutocracy and bigotry
lay uuholy hands upon the institutions
~ this country and rob even the least
Of the people Of rights ana privileges
that are theirs by the mandates u
the sacred instrument 81 freedom, then
II is time 20 let ne soul.stirrinl
strains Of some American Msrseillaise
sound and srouse patriots 10 the de-
fsnss a. their blrthrght Then danger
Il imminent But d; Is different from
that which Msoaulay saw in demo,ra-
tie Institutions.