Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1912-10-04
Are we quarreling with prosperity:

Are we quarreling with prosperity?
Have we arrived at that point in our
civilization where all that we have learn
ed will not avail TO p1eep us sane?
Where We are ready to abandon all
the facts laboriously collected and go
chasing after untried and in some cases
patiently wild-eyed theories of govern
ment? 1t would appear so. Never was
the United States in a more prosperous
condition. and never was such prosper
ity more generally distributed, and
yet on the other hand. never was dis
content so universally rife as at the
present time. Men who, during Cleve-
lands administration were more than
glad to get a job at 81 or s1.25 per day
are now turning up their noses at
$500 per day. Strikes and rumors of
strikes. walkouts and lockouts are to be
heard Of on every hand. Never have
VIC. the common people, been so well
clothed, we'll housed and we'll fed as
W are right now. Never have our chill
dren had such a good chance for educa-
ton and for moral, social and financi-
al advancement. Yet in the face of all
this many are inveighing against ;the
government and taking up with every
ism and theory advocated by men of
little learning and less brains, from
street corners and public rostrums. The
trouble with us is that we have been
bitten by the get-rich-quick bug. We
have overlooked the fact that from the
very nature of things it is impossible
for ninety-five per cent Of US to ever
become wealthy. We have developed
a champagne appetite on a beer in
come Having arrived at the dignity OF
horse and buggy we are now envious
Of our neighbor who sports an automo-
Heb In short We have arrived at that
point where we want the best there is
without being willing to give our best
efforts, mental and physical. in order
to get 1t.
We are not, for one moment, con-
tending that condit ons of government
are ideal. There is no question but that
we, the herd, are getting something less
than our just due as producers Of all the
wealth. We are not prepared to say
that we axe not getting robbed by
big Business and the various trusts
and monopolies. But we are prepared
to say and do say right here and now,
that it is largely our own fault. We
have in many cases neglected our duty
as citizens in the use of our one great
: weapon, the ballot. We have it with.
in our power to not only control the
government under which we live. but
also to correct any and all evils which
are the outgrowth of lour policy OF
neglect and indifference.
We also believe that it is the par
of wisdom to make these corrections i,
and through the party which has gvei
US whatever of prosperity we have eve,
enjoyed rather than TO turn to som,
other party whose theories are only
theories and must always remain the
cries or to party whose record fol
the past fifty years, in the few times i
has been entrusted with power, has
been record of failure and impotence
The republican party stands TO
something definite. 1t has always beef
the party Of progress. If we have al
lowed sharpers and selfish schemers t
usurp the powers which are rightfull.
ours, we have nobody to blame bu
ourselves. and it is up to US to cleal
house. But let US rather hang on t
the many undeniably good things "
now have rather than to 60 on a viii
goose chase for the pot Of gold whic