The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-12-22
REFORMERS
AND REFORM

! And now, standing in the glitterins
light Of tie intelligence, heart and
brain OF the twentieth century-he-
cause he advocates the onward march
and upward movement of the human
race; because The tlaauhes ''Do 80
others as you would have others do to
you'-not only the greatest sentence
in the Bible. but the grandest senti-
men: in the literature of all the world,
because he advocates the universal
equality and eternal rights and liber-
ties CT man, the great and generous
Warren has been fined and senten-
ced to imprisonment by political pi-
rates and business buccaneers who en-
slave, smpoverish and degrade the
human race by murderous monopolies
and thieving trusts. His heroism
for humanity will: be lmmortaliZed in
living art and crystaliZcd in deathless
song.
Reforrlers are prosecuted and de-
stroycd not only by the ignorance and
wickedness they strive to change,
but by those they seek to rescue and
redeem from blunders, misconceptions
and mistakes. In this way man has
always punished his redeemers and
defenders to the bloodiest degree OF
death. True reformers are the lone
suoduers of despotc tyranny and
crime. the sole redeemers, the only
earthly savinurs of the civilization ana
happiness Of man.. Muzzle or chain
thn rnvnlnti ti0niStc oh In
these loyal lives devoted to discover.
les. inventions and reforms of every
sort and kind-then imagine the ef.
feet on progress and enlightenment.
Every new discovery or inventions
means a reformation, every new idea
is a revelation, revolution or reform
Had not reformers advocated changes
in conditions, customs ways and means
OF men, we would today endure gov
crnmental desnotisn, social cannlbal-
ism, religious persecution and the
starlcss night of ignorance and heath
endom infested with the filthy fiends
OF tyranny and superstitution. with
countless crimes against the innocent,
henighted, helpless children of chance.
Let .reformers agitate and educate
so the people can-survey the whole ex-
panse of life and thought. to reject
the worthless chaf and dross. to re-
tain the shining gold and grain OF
truth. Were there no political re-
formers, we would nearly all be peas
ants. castes and waits. Were there no
industrial reforms we would mostly
all be servants, serfs or slaves. Were
there no religious reformations. We
would all be stupid, superstitious ian,
atics. human owls and thouShtless
apes hootinS and chattering the same
old boots and cries that were uttered
long ago. If no moral reforms, we
| wold become den of rep:obates, muir
| derers and thieves. In short. were
revolutions thwarted everywhere, the
currents, waves and tides of the mign-
| ty social ocean would forget to ebo
or flow to purify itself and nourish
all the shores OF life and thought. 1t
would silently recede and settle in n
sta agnant pool whose vile and ritiateu
waters would depopulate itself and
murder all inhabitants OF every isle
! and continent of time and space.
Whoever brands reformers as cal
amity howlers. carping croakers,
I cranks, fanatics and fools, is the worst
! fanatic, fool or calamity howlcr tnat
! could curse the earth of contaminate
our heads and hearts with the fool
| ishness of farce and fear. All hail the
! great reformers and the revolution
/ lists who bravely broke the letters
J from, tne soul and brain OF man. Tney
tore the chilling chains Of slavery from
the human race and filed the DARK
and desolate night Of ignorance ano
! sunerstitution with the light OF per
roct day. they rescued politics ano
government from tyrants hlooo'
hands. and restored the throne ane
sceDtor that proclaim the common pee
nle the peerless kings and qauecnS
rIurrah for the reformers, the reEo
lutionists, the evolutionists, the chahs
org oe fornalities. traditions. customs
methods and works of man. Ihey rear
: i,assIv invade the dungeons OF StuPi
div and hypocracy to eNtirnatc 'h'
false and wrong. to Grandty lloe''i''
, the truth and right. to praise ti'
, ,,,,d and inst. They nobly overwl.cln
,be powers OF ignorance. lnlHst'ce