The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-10-03
WHY THESE TEARS?

In the third term movement the
spirit most difficult to explain is the
religious emotion SO often displayed.
Account for it as we may, there can
be no doubt that a good deal OF 1T
is genuine. 1t may not be lasting,
but as long as it can be maintained
it is a valuable asset.
The leaders of the new party
have never been greatly distinguish
ed for piety. On the contrary, most
of them have impressed the country
chiefly as INSCRIPTIONS politicians.
They are better known for pride,
ambition and sharp practice than
they are for benevolence. Yet their
followers sing hymns to them, refer
to each other in biblical terms and
liken their seemingly abortive enter
prise to a holy crusade.
Frenzy of this kind is what comes
of abandoning politics and econom-
les for sentiment and sentimental
ity Man has not been described as
a religious animal, but he is also
eminently practical. and his whole
history shows that he makes more
progress when he keeps his business,
politics and religion separate than
when he makes a tumble of them.
Instead of correcting economic
wrongs and fragrant commercial
greed, the new party diverts atten-
ton from these things by weeping
over the woes of humanity and by
psalm singing. 1t profoundly touches
the sensibilities of all who feel
keenly the sufferings and sorrows
of mankind. 1t touches the thick
hide of our gluttons of privilege
not at all.
Why is human misery just now
more appalling than it was ten years
ago, for example, when the first
term was in progress? Have pow
erty, sickness, neglected childhood
and wretched old age gained new
terrors since then? Has death an
added sting? If so, what has been
the cause? II not so, why these
tears?
Two powerful commercial aims
characterize the practical men who
support the third term. One OF
these is the preservation of the ex-
tortionate tariff in behalf of inter-
ests that might help the poor If
they would. The other is the legal
ization and perpetuation of monop-
oily which VIGOROUSLY Expresses
everybody.
There never was any harmful
labor by women in this country until
the benefciaries of protective tariff
created the necessity for it by their
cheap imported male help.
There never was any harmful
labor by children in this country
until the benefciaries of extortion-
ate tariffs made wages so low that
parents could not live upon their
own earnings.
There never was an invisible
government" of greed and graft at
Washington until it was built up as
a bulwark of the favored interests
that have grown rich and powerful
through their tariffs of extortion.
The pitiable conditions which
agonize a man like George W. Per-
kins of the Harvester Trust have all
sprung up under the economic sys-
tenn that has made him rich. I'm
emotional men might say that the
surest cure for these evils would be
the repeal of the unjust laws whose
progeny they are.
WIN Cnelr packs LuTueQ W Lue
tariff and the trusts, our devoted
crusaders are marching to the words
and music of "Onward Christian
Soldiers" in a mighty onslaught not
upon bad laws and bad politics but
upon disease, death and sorrow.
Some of the sufferings of human
ity appear to be necessary, while
MANY are unnecessary. Among the
latter are all those that may justly
be attributed to infatuation and de-
lusion.-New York World.