The Washington times., 1906-12-04
Preachers of Discomfort
Harm Labor and Capital

In dealing with both labor and capital.
with the questions affecting both cor
DoratioHs and trades unions. there IS one
matter more important TO remember
than aught else. and that is the infinite
harm done by preachers OF mere dis
content. These are the men who seek 70
excite violent class hatred against all
men Of wealth. They seek 10 turn wise
and proper movements for the better
control OF corporations and for doing
away with the abuses connected with
wealth, into campaign OF hysterical
excitement and falsehood IN which the
aim is 10 infame 10 madness the brutal
passions OF mankind.
The sinister demagogues and foolish
Missionaries who are always eager TO
undertake such a campaign of destruc-
ton sometimes seek 20 associate them
selves with those working for q genuine
reform In governmental and social meth
DDS. and sometimes masquerade as such
reformers. In reality they are the worst
enemies OF the cause they profess 10 ad-
vocate. just as the purveyors OF sensa-
tional slander IN newspaper or magazine
are the worst enemies OF all men who are
engaged in en- honest effort 10 better
mental conditions.
To preach hatred OF the rich man as
such. 20 carry on a campaign Of slauder
and invective against him, 70 seek 70
mislead and infiame 10 madness honest
men whose lives are hard and who have
not the kind OF mental training which
will permit them 20 appreciate the dan
ger IN the doctrines preached-aH this IS
~E. - ~
lltic. and 10 be false 70 every worthy
principle and tradition OF American ma
tional life. Moreover. while such preach
ing and such agitation may give I've
Iihood and a certain notoriety 10 some
OF those who take part IN IL. and may
result in the temporary political success
OF others, IN the long run every such
movement VIII either fail or else viii
provoke q violent reaction. which Will It.
self result not merely IN Und0ing the
mischief wrought by the demagogue and
the agitatOr, but also in Undoiug the
good that the honest reformeT. the true
uphOlder Of popular rights. has painfully
and laboriousIy achieved
Corruption IS never so rife as in COM
munities where the demagogue and the
agitator bear fun sway, because in such
communities all moral bands become
loosened, and hysterla and sensational
ISM replace the spirit OF sound judg-
ment and fair dealing as between man
and man. In sheer revolt against the
saualid anarchy thus produced men are
sure in the end to turn toward any
leader who can restore order, and then
their relief at being free from the in
tolerable burdens OF class hatred, vio-
Iaura and demaROe-y Is sucI that they
cannot for some time be arCvsed 10 in
dignation again misdeeds by men OF
wealth: so that they permit q new
growth Of the very abuses which were in
part responsible for the original out
break.
The one hope for success for our peo-
pie lies in a resolute and fearless, but
sane and cool-headed, advance along
the path marked out last year by this
very Congress. There must be q stern
refusal TO be misled into following either
that base creature who appeals and
panders 10 the lowest instincts and pas
sions in order to arouse one set Of
Americans against their fellows, or that
other creature, equally base, but no
baser. who in a spirit OF greed, or to
accumulate or add to an already huge
fortune, seeks TO exploit his fellow
Americans with callOus disregard TO
their welfare Of soul and body. The
man who debauches others in order to
obtain a high office stands on an evil
OF corruption with the man who
others for financial profit:
and when hatred is sOwn the crop which
springs up can only be evil.