New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-02
Popular Unrest the
Work of Demagogues

ln tie work Of rOusiLg the people TO the
danger that threatened our civilization
from the abuses OF concentrated wealth
and the power II was likely to exercise,
the public imagination was wrought upon
and reign Of sensational journalism and
unjust and unprincipled undertaking has
followed, in which much injustice has
been done to honest men DeInagogues
have seized the opportunity further 10
lnhane the public mind, and have sought
10 turn the peculiar conditions 10 their
advantage
We are living in an age in which b.
eAaSSeratlOn or the defects Of our pres
ent condition, by false charges Of respon-
sloiliy for it against individuals and
classes. by holding Up TO tho feverish
imagination Of the less fortunate and tho
dlscontented the possibilities Of mil.
lennium, condition of popular unre 1t
has been produced. New parties arc be-
ing formed. with the proposed purpose
OF satisfying this unrest by promising a
panacea. IN 80 FAR As inequality OF con-
dition can be lessened and equality of op-
portunlty can be promoted by improve
ment Of our educational system, the bet
teIment Of the laws TO insure the quick
administration OF justice and by the pre-
Vention OF the acquisition Of privilege
without Just compensation. in so far az
the adoption of the legislation above re
cited and laws OF q similar character may
aid the less fortunate In their struggle
with the hardships Of life, all are in sym
pahhy With a continued effort 10 remedy
injustice and to aid the weak, and /
venture TO say that there Is no national
administration IN which moro real steps
Of such progress have been taken than
In the present one. But In so far as the
propaganda for the satisfaction OF unrest
involves the promise Of a millennium, a
condition in which the rich are 10 be
made REASONABLY poor and the poor rea-
III v.lrh tVr 1nt .1au ctt. T.
phantom; we are holding out to those
whose unrest We fear a prospect and a
dream, vision OF the impossible
In the ultimate analysis fear, the
equal opportunity which those seek who
proclaim the coming Of so-called social
Justice involves q forced division Of prop
erty. and that means socialism. In the
abuses Of the last two decades IL IS true
that ill-gotten wealth has been cOncen-
trated in some undeserving hands, and
that II II were possible 10 redstribute Il
on any equitable principle to those from
whom Il was taken without adequate or
proper compensation it would be good
result to bring about But this Is ooyi:.
ously impossible and inlpracticable. All
that can be done IS 10 treat this az one
incidental evil of great expansive move
ment in the material progress Of the
world, and TO make sure that there viii
be no recurrence OF such evil. In this
regard we have made great progress and
reform. as In respect 10 secret rebates In
railways. the improper comforting or pub
lie franchises, and the immunity OF
monopolzng trusts and combinations.
The nisfortunes OF ordinary business. tho
division oc the estates Of wealthy men at
their death, the chances Of speculation
which undue good fortune seems often
to stimulate operating as causes through
a generation. will do much TO divide up
such large fortunes. 1t Is. far better 20
await the dimlnution OF this evil by nat:
ural causes than to attempt what would
soon take on the aspect OF eonilscation
or 10 abolish the principle and institution
az private property and TO change to So
cialisrn. Socialism involves the taking
away OF the motive for acquisition. saw
Ing. energy and enterprise. and a futile
Tewards due for productive labor. II
means stagnation and retrogression.. 1t
DESTROYS the main spring Of human action
that has carried the world on and upward
for two thousand years.