Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-08-08

IActl0n OF unrest iHHotNS@ hoo RA~.AA~S
Of a millennium, a condition In which
the rich are 10 be made reasonably
poor and the poor reasonably rich By
the law, we are chasing phantom; We
are holding ont to those whose I'M
rest we fear a prospect and dream, >
vision OF the impossible.
Locks Like Socialism.
In the ultimate analysis. fear, the
equal opportunity which those seek
Who proclaim the coming of so-called
social Justice involves forced divis-
ion OF property. and that means So
ciallsm. In the abuses Of the last two
decades II is true that ill-gotten
wealth has been concentrated In some
undeservlng hands, and that II II were
possible TO redistribute II on any equf
table principle TO those from whom II
was taken without adequate or proper
compensation II would be good re-
suit to bring about. But this Is OBJ
viously impossible and impracticable.
All that can be done is to treat this
as one incidental evil OF a great ex-
pansive movement in the material
progress Of the world and to make
sure that there will be no recurrence
Of such evil.
In this regard we have made great
progress and reform, as In respect to
secret rebates in railways, the i'm
proper comforting Of public fran
chises, and the immunity OF mo-
nopolizing trusts and combinations
The misfortunes of ordinary busi-
ness, the division of the estates
Of wealthy men at their death, the
chances of speculation which undue
good fortune seems often to stimu-
late, operating as causes through q
generation, will do much to divide up
such large fortunes. II Is far better TO
await the elimination Of this evil by nat
ural causes than TO attempt what would
soon take on the aspect of confiscation
or to abolish the principle and insti-
tuition OF private property and TO
change to socialism. Socialism In
wolves the taking away Of the motive
for acquisition, saving, energy, ana
enterprise, and a futile attempt by
committees to apportion the rewards
due for productive labor. 1t means
stagnation and retrogression. II de-
stroys tie handspring of human action
that has carried the world on and up
ward for 1000 years.
Opponents Offer No Remedy.
do not say that the two gentle
men who now lead. one the Demo
cratic party and the other the former
who have left their party,
in their attacks upon existing condi-
tons, and In their attempt to satisfy
the popular unrest by promises OF
remedies, are consciously embracing
socialism. The truth Is that they do
not offer any definite legislation or
policy by which the happy conditions
they promise are to be brought about,
but II their promises mean anything,
they lead directly toward the APP
preparation of what belongs to one
man, to another The truth is, my
friends, both those who have left the
party under the inspira-
ton of their present leader, and our
old opponents, the Democrats. under
their candidate, are going in direc-
ton they do not definitely know. to-
ward an end they can not definitely
describe, with but one chief and clear
object, and that IL of acquiring pow
er for their party by popular support
through the promise Of change for
the better. What they clamor for Ii
q change. They ask for change in
government 80 that the government
may be restored to the people. as II
this had not been peoples govern.
ment since the beginning Of the con-
stitution. have the fullest sympathy
with every reform in governmental
and election machinery which shall
facilitate the expression of the popu-
lar will as the short ballot and the
reduction in elective Offices to make
L possible. But these gentlemen nro
pose to reform the government, whose
present defects, If any. are due to the
failure Of the people to devote as
much time as is necessary to their
political duties. by requiring politi
cal activity by the people three times
that which thus far the people have !
been willing to assume; and thus they
propose remedies which. instead Of
exciting the people to further interest
and activity in the government, will
tire them into such an indifference as
still further to remand control of pub
lie affairs to a minority.
Hostility to Judiciary.
Instead Of giving us the benefit of
any specific remedies for the hard |
ships and evils OF society they point /
out. they follow their urgent appeals i
Tor closer association Of the people !
in legislation by an attempt to cult. !
vate the hostility of the people to the
courts and to represent that they are
IN some form UNFOLDING injustice and
are obstructing the ponular will At. ,