The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-08-09

| Ing a phantom; we are holding out
10 those whose unrest we fear n pros
pect and q dream. q vision OF the I'M
possible.
Looks Like Socialism.
In the ultimate analysis. ! 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 Il is true that ill-gotten
wealth has been concentrated In some
unde serving hands. and that II II were
possible TO redistribute It On any equi-
table principle TO those from whom 1t
was taken without adequate or proper
compensation 1t would be a good re-
suit to bring about. But this Is OBJ
yiously impossible and impracticable.
All that can be done Is to treat this
rs IN Incidental evil or q great ex-
papsive movement in the material
progress of the world and TO make
sure hat there will be no recurrence
OF such evil.
In this regard We have made great
progress and reform. as In respect to
secrc; rebates in railways. the i'm
proper comforting OF public fran
Chises. and the immunity Of mo-
nClCli2iag trusts and combinations.
The .nisfor:unes of ordinary business,
the division Of the estates OF
wealthy men al their death, the
chances of speculation whica undue
good fortune seems often to stimu-
late, operating as causes through a
generation, will do much TO divide up
such large fortunes. II is far better to
await the diminution OF this evil by
natural causes than to attempt what
wonld soon take on the aspect OF con-
fiscation or TO abolish the principle
and institution of private property and
to change 10 socialism. Socialism in
wolves the taking away OF the motive
FOR acquisition. saving. energy. and
enterprise, and q futile attempt by
committees TO apportion the rewards
due for productive labor. II means
~stagEstion 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
meG 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-
tons. and II 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
t!.ey promise are TO be brought about.
but IL taeir promises mean anything.
they lead directly toward the APP
preparation OF what belongs to n
man by another. The truth is. my
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 a direc-
ton they do not definitely know. to-
ward an end they can not definitely
describe. with but n chief and clear
object, and that Is Of acquiring power
for their party by popular support
through the promise OF a change for
the better. What they clamor for
is a change. They ask for a change In
government 30 that the government
may be restored to the people, as II
this had not been a peoples govern
ment since the beginning of the con-
stitution. I 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 ofices will make
II possible. But these gentlemen pro-
pose to reform the government, whose
present defects. II any. are due to the
failure OF the people to devote as
much time al 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
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
for closer association OF the people
In legislation by an attempt to culti-
vate the hostility OF the people to 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 flnd express
sion in the policy. on the one hand.
OF the recall OF judges, q system un-
der which a Judge whose decision In
one case may temporarily displease
the electorate is to be deprived at
once OF his Office by q popular vote.