New-York tribune., 1919-02-11
The Lesson of Seattle


Northwestern states, where unwisdom
has helped l. W. W. agitation, was
bound to lift its head some day. Hav-
ing come, having passed from words
to acts, the change is not unwelcome. If
democracy and democratic institutions
have need to be reastablished in the un-
challenged confidence of the masses, let
US be about the business
The curtain went up many years ago
in the Ceur d'Alene with its famous
bullpen-when in the interest of a
quick decision it was deemed permis-
sible to condone the means adopted. The
second act was played about the mine
heads of Colorado and Montana, where
the anarchsm of capital stimulated
other anarchisms. The third act was in
Bolshevist Russia, in events which have
had an exciting repercussion in the
hangouts of the West.
A long trail, but the spoor is easy
to follow. An exotic and un-American
philosophy was brought over in the
baggage of the immigration army and by
pseudo intellectuals educated in Germany.
1t has been able, in some degree, to poison
the normal discomfort of the American
with his lot. Then the toxin was made
easy to swallow by the foolish idea of
some that the Constitution is an instru-
ment for the protection of property, and
not at all, or very little for the protec-
ton Of men. How this crazy notion
gained currency is a mystery, but that it
did every one knows who is familiar with
injunction decisions, with Lawrence and
Paterson strikes, with Mooney cases and
the like.
The first necessity, if the good ship
democracy is to ride smoothly and safely,
is to get the right sort of helmsmen. One
eyed navigators whose off-side is blind to
the reefs must be dismissed Seattle has
tried the experiment of meeting "unde-
sirables" at the railway station and
lynching them to continue on their way.
and it has not worked. Order is to be
firmly maintained, no fetch is to be
made of habeas corpus; but it must be
the order of law, not of individual opin-
ion or of chambers of commerce. It
must be entirely clear that in this coun-
try there is government operation of the
government.
The United States is 90 per cent lit
crate, whereas Russia is so per cent H.
iterate. We have invested heavily in the
public school, and the investment, now as
heretofore, is likely to pay. The average
American is no moujik, ready to believe
anything told to him. He inherited a
political tradition which has broadenec
down for a thousand years with increas-
ing human benefits. He knows some his
tory and science, and is aware both
leave doubt whether revolution has
ever occurred or can occur He sees
what is called revolution is usually
merely destruction, making it neces
sary to add the labor of repair and re-
constr -tlon to that Of evolutionary prog
ress n need to instruct him as ia the
bies s5Ings Of a proletarian republic.S He
has always lived in one.
The capitalistic system is our se~
want, not our ruler If we would modify
our commands to it, no inhibition rests
on US. And as long as there is no in.
nibition, as long as we, the people, arc
master in our own house, we are little
likely to be fooled by phrases which NAV
naTe applicability elsewhere, but none
here
The general view that democratic
type Of government is superior to ar
autocracy of the soviet model seems
shared BY the sovieteers. Those sounds
affecting the air are outcries from tbe
oeportables who are clawing anc
scratching against being returned to en-.
Joy the blessings of Russia. The gates
OF Ellis Island, be it observed, still swine
inward