The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-30
BY BRAND wHiTLock.


In the world that causes most Of it's
troubles. Socialists OF the impossi-
bilist wing, evangelists, prohibitions
and policemen are all endowed with
this order OF mind. These. while form
Ing subdivisions OF distinct intel
lectual class OF humanity. are gen.
erically the same.
All OF these classes think In the
same groove, and they are practically
unanimous In their fundamental mode
OF thought They differ only In minor
details, but they always meet upon
that narrow strip OF ground upon
which they have erected their infiex-
ible model for humanity. with just
room enough by It's side for the scat
fold upon which to hang those who
don't accept it,
Certain citizens of the indurate or
der OF mind are given TO saying that
II they were In authority, the police
would do SO and SO. or the police
would not do such and such q thing.
or that they would have the police
see to this or that, etc., etc.. etc. But
they would do no such thing. After
they had been In power while, they
would grow humble. IL not dfscour-
aged. and they would be gratined II
they succeeded in doing about one.
third OF what they had hoped and
planned to do.
Thus It was that I, who had tried
to give everybody the right to Tree
speech, was chagrined to ind that
man had been interfered with, az vas
claimed, for preaching the mild doc
trine OF Socialism. a doctrine based
upon the theory that our religion was
right when 1t advocated the brother
hood of man and that our Declaration
of Independence was right when IL
advocated his equality.
Says Socialists Will Learn Much.
Socialism Is doctrine. In Its es-
sence, which breaches that II a man
will not work, neither ought he TO
eat. but that II he does work, ne
ought to have the full proceeds OF his
own toll and It recognizes at least
the essential immortality there s IN
n system which debases human be-
ings. named workingmen, into a CON-
modify and pays them for their labor
only what they can get by forced
competition with each other, instead
of what they really earn. This IL why
policemen. as the chief pillars OF so
ciety, instinctively interfere with IT,
even when they don't understand IT,
But this Is the way OF the world, as
the Socialists will find out when they
get into power, and when they do get
into power the impossiblist wing, OF
course. will at once secede. just as the
radical abolitionists were the nrst
ones to oppose Lincoln. :
felt that Mr.. Patterson had had
an indignity put upon him by his ar
rest. and while, OF course, l couidn
undo what had been done, l could
tender him an official apology, and
that In what | did. AS to the orders
IN the police. I did instruct the dlrec-
tor of public safety to inform them
that the next man who interfereo
with any voice crying In the wilder
ness would be dismissed from the
force.
Rloht Of Free Speech.
What Ia free speech? Well, the
right to speak freely what ID on ones
mind. or someone else's MIND, or
what one thinks, or thinks he thinks.
II is right cherished by all ana
exercised by none. Few say what
they actually think, owing TO a dis-
position on the part OF humanity 10
apply the hemlock or the moose In
such cases. Everybody believes IN
freen speech when he is the speaker.
The difficulty with many Is tnat tney
insist upon everybody believing what
they say and In having them sent 10
iail II they don't believe IT, or say
that they believe 1t, which Is consid-
cred by society as the preferable
state of mind. -.
All the trouble in the world that
hasn't come from a purely economic
cause. and presume my friends
among the Socialists would remind
me that this has It's economic basis,
too. 40 we won't pursue the thoughe
further.