Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-08-09
Looks Like Socialism.


In the ultimate analysis, I fear, the
equal opportunity which those seek
who proclaim the coming of so-called
social justice, involves a forced division
OF property, and that means social
ism. In the abuses of the last two,
decades it is true that ill-gotten
wealth has been concentrated in some
undeserving hands, and that if it were
possible to redistribute it on any equi-
table principle to those from whom it
was taken without adequate or proper
compensation it 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-
noLclizing trusts and combinations.
The misfortunes of ordinary business,
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
generation, will do much to divide up
such large fortunes. It is far better to
await the dininutior of this evil by
natural causes than to attempt what
would soon take on the aspect of con-
fiscation or to abolish the principle
and institution of private property and
to change to socialism. Socialism in
wolves the taking away of the motive
for acquisition, saving, energy, and
enterprise, and a futile attempt by
committees to apportion the rewards
due for productive labor. IT means
stagns ton and retrogression. 1t de-
stroys the 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
Republicans who have left their party,
in their attacks upon existing condi-
tions, 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 if their promises mean anything,
they lead directly toward the ap-
preparation OF what belongs. to one
friends, both those who have left the
Republican 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 is of acquiring power
for their party by popular support
through the promise of change for
the better. What they clamor for
is change. They ask for change in
government SO that the government
may be restored to the people, as if
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 will make
it possible But these gentlemen pro-
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 a 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
SSH further to remand control of pub
lie affairs to 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
for closer association of the people
in legislation by an attempt to cult
vate the hostility If the people 20 the
courts and to represent that they are
in some form unfolding injustice and
are obstructing the popular will. At
tempts are made to take away all
those safeguards for maintaining the
independence of the judiciary which
are so carefully framed in our consti-
tuition. These attempts find express
sion in the policy, on the one hand,
of the recall of judges. a system I'M
der which a judge whose decision in
one case may temporarily displease
the. electorate is to be deprived at
once of his Office by a popular vote.
a pernicious system embodied in the
Arizona constitution and whtch the
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