Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-20
Editors Letter Box
Socialists Lost Opportunity

l
Socialism is the outgrowth of undemo-
cratic conditions from which republics
and monarchies often drift into as greed
and selishness creeps into its govern
ments. Anarchists are the product of
despotic rule. They are made, not born.
! Our own great republic in the last half
| century has drifted from the teachings
of Jefferson and Lincoln to a government
/ OF selfish interest whose office was in
Wall street, and not in Washington. The
influence of these great combinations was
| not realized. their movements were SO
| stealthy until the peoples rights were
gradually becoming lost. Out Of this
economic condition struggling men and
| women sought some means of relief
| through their governments. Socialism
| had its birth in foreign countries where
! the struggle was hardest. As oppression
! began to be felt in the United States
thinking men and women became afflliat-
ed with the movement. Like all radical
changes 1t received no end of ridicule and
antagonism and the man higher up had
| no disposition to share any of his pos
sessions with his fellowman. regardless
| Of the fact that his co-oworkers had
made it possible for his vast holdings.
| He held the title and that covered the
law that he had helped make. Socialism
| is cooperation commercialized. AS CO.
operation increased, competition would
die for the want Of support, AS competi-
ton diminishes, greed and hatred disap-
pear, as they go hand in hand. AS COM
petition combined with hatred increased
in our National politics. a representative
of the people was elected President in
1912. Not radical but far seeing man,
whose vision could not he clouded by the
most powerful influences that ever faced
man of great responsibility. A man
who sought to know the truth and the
whole truth The great truth of life and
destiny are being revealed to him as they
would to any one who seeks the true
light. only to him in greater abundance
as his responsibility Is greater. The great
mass OF misguided humanity cannot ap-
preciate his moves as they are seeing
from, a narrow vision or through a glass
darkly II one does not know the way.
It Is safer to be led when your leader is
true and wise.
The Socialist party refuse to be led by
others than their own brand. They are
like a close student of the Bible who ac
cents its teachings literally and cannot
amply them to the age in which they live.
They possess single-track minds. They
fail to give the other fellow credit for his
diverse right of freedom of thought. The
Socialist party in America believe It SAT-
er to suffer the destruction of our Repub-
lie and build upon its ruins. President
Wilson believes Il better to build real
democracy upon what we have. While
the immortal Lincoln's work was to es-
tablish union Of all the states from
Mexico to Canada, President Wilson >
great work Is to establish freedom and
democracy for all nations. The Socialist
party's golden opportunity is to cooper
ate in This great work OF reform and be-
come a national factor in helping work
ont MANY Of their reforms which are OF
the most practical when put into use. In
stead OF being an arm OF defence, they
have become a menace and a stumbling
block and will bring only reproach upon
themselves and the cause they stand for
and stand In the governments way for
progress and closing the war. How great
has been the misery in the past two
thousand years by not needing the call
OF the worlds greatest teacher and light.
His greatest despair was when he uttered
these words: "How often would have
gathered them under my wing as a hen
gathers her chickens, but they would not"
How great has been the price humanity
has paid for its heedlessness. Must in
dividuais always persist In standing In
their own hight?
E Fl. INGRAHAM.