Gilpin observer., 1910-02-17
THE MEAT BOYCOTT.
"a. T. Thompson.) }


ing together of those who have deter
mined to eat no meat for an indefi-
nate period, the object being to COM
pei the producers to lower prices.
Whether they will accomplish their
purpose or not, remains to be seen.
But we believe that the venture will
be beneficial in more ways than one.
1t will be realization to those who
have taken the pledge, that they can
exist without meat, and, it will be
physical advantage. The American
people eat too much meat, and too
many Injuries of one kind and
| another.
Plain living and high thinking are
usually associated. 1t would be very
much better for us mentally and ply
sically, If we would live on plain,
wholesome food and not SO many deli
cacies; as Burns says:
What tho on namely fare we dine,
Wear hodden-gray and a that;
Gle fools their silks, and knaves their
wine,
A mans a man for a that"
Then it Is an object lesson to the
people that a silent protest OF this
rule and violence. 1t is an indication
that the people intend to deal wisely,
and with reason, where they believe
they are oppressed. We are fast ap-
preaching the time when all questions
Of controversy will be settled by
council; when as Tennyson says:
The common sense of most,
VIII hold a fretful realm in awe, y
And the kindly earth will slumbsr
Rapt in universal law
II anything is to be accomplished
in the control of these great combina-
tions Of capital, it must be by evolu
tion rather than revolution. The peo-
pie cannot dictate commercial code
and say, Thus far thou shalt go and
no further"
We are living in the commercial
age and the American people are alb
normally developed along that line.
AS individuals they do not feel res
ponsible but place the blame on the
corporations, the old contemplate red
fuge. THE woman beguiled me and
l did eat"
So long as men lack the spirit of
honor that will prompt them in their
dealings with their fellow man it is
hard to conrol the situation.
There would be no need OF state
restrictions, if they had the spirit of
a Brutus, who said: by heaven i
would rather coin my heart, and drop
my blood for drachmas, than to wiring
from the hard hands of peasants theiI
vile trash, by any indirection."
The abnormal development of any
base menial appetite will lead the in
dividual to disaster. 1t is said that
Benedict Arnold had a habit, when n
boy. of breaking up glass bottles
where his companions would cut their
bare feet on them. That cruel char
acteristic nurtured and fostered from
his youth, eliminated in later life, in
case. Judas Iscariot objected to the
waste Of the ointment in Mary's mark
of honor to Christ, saying that it
should have been sold and given to
the poor; and the recorder says it
was not that he cared for the poor;
but because he carried the bag, and
bare what was put therein.
This avaricious spirit developed
into such greed for gain, that he
finally sold his master for 80 pieces
of silver. But we must not indiscrimi-
nately stifle and discourage ambition
or we rstard progress. The spirit Of
ambition is the characteristic of the
human family that has lifted them
above the rest of the animal king.
dom; without any other motive at
first than protection, and all uncon-
sicous Of advancement; but later for
the purpose Of reaching the IDEAL
Brutus' charge against Caesar was
ambition; and because he was ambi.
tious he slew him; he was striking n
blow against the progress Of the
ages.
II men would be honorable in those
relations, and not take advantage in
a sailors phrase. pass them to
leeward," then we would have new
heaven and new earth. Concentra.
tion OF power will remove mountains
and may be made an universal bless
ing. but II It is used for the purpose