The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-02
PROGREssIvEs OR PROTEsTANTs

Just why they should adopt the name OF
Progressive. or have It thrust upon them. 3
not quite clear We progressives," as Clifford
Pinchot was wont 10 say. have stirred up con-
siderable agitation, but i'll reality they do not
deserve the name. They are not progressives.
They are protestants against those who would
oyerturn the ancient order Of things and set
or high money power. an oligarchy, mammon
worship.
These protestants can see N imagination
temple built to this golden god and the incense
offered him is or tainted money, They can see
statesmen set aside to make room for the high
priests OF frenzed finance: the Guggenheims,
-Aerga8s,- ReeAefeileFs5 Beimonts. The
republic is already in the hands of these money
changers, is their cry, and they would lead the
people back 70 their old faith their old Ideals
that this may be nation OF ffeemen. even
such a nation as the fathers sought to estab
llsh.
The fathers it is recognized on every hand
did very we'll They had lofty ideals. they had
decided opinions and they backed them up
with an assurance that has won the undying
admiration of their children. In fact, the rever-
ence of the children for the fathers OF the
republic has been seized upon and exploited by
the creatures OF mammon and used de-
Tense for their acts.
They shrek that vested rights TO grab every
thing in sight is guaranteed by the coustitu-
ton and any attempt TO make them disgorge
is an attack on the constitution and the repub-
lie as planned by the fathers.
Quite a number of persons hear this cry and
believe it, and when leaders like Wilson and
BRYAN and--give him his due-Roosevelt-
preach against these methods they are called
they are trying to lead the people into estab-
fishing socialstic. populistic or some sort OF
anarchratic republic.
In reality this is not so. The so-caIled pro-
gressives appear to be men who are opposing
the progress of the great trusts, benefcent and
otherwise They are protestants who do not
want the coal fields OF Alaska placed in the
hands OF great combination OF many trusts.
They are Fretestants who preach against the
cutting down OF the forests by the lumber
trust Which is not progress bus opposition to
new things.
The big trusts, the giant combinations are
in reality the real progressiyes They are the
ones who attempt TO create new order of
things. They seek to control the food supply.
the supply of everything that pertains to the
existence and comfort OF man. They contrye
new ways. They hire crafty counsel to tell
them how they may evade the law OF the land.
They are the real progressiyes. these giants,
these trusts, these combinations OF allied in
terests. or whatever may be the name each
Individual sees lit To hestow upon them They
are the ones. whom the so-called progressiNea
are hghting. And yet It is these latter who
called progressives.
Here, plainly, is some mistake. Such men as
Bryan. Wilson, Roosevelt and La Toilette are
protestants, not progressives. 1t is they who
would return to the old order OF AFFAIRS to the
simple principles of the ideal republic that the
fathers undoubtedly planned to the best Of
tner ability. And the latter is no reflection
upon them How could they. in their sim
plieitg imagine Guggepbeim Weyerhsuscr,
Is Rockefeller The fathers did the best they