Evening journal., 1919-03-15

The war and the period OF readiust
ment through which we are now pass
ing has awakened US 10 the fact that
there is in the United States a consid-
cradle body OF men and women who
seek TO abolish those rights Of person
and prOpe. ty which it was organized TO
protect. BY Whatever name they are
known,-Sooialists Anarchists. Indus
trial Workers Of the World, Bolshe-
vists-all are animated by a common
purpose 10 destroy existing methods
and standards in politics, economics and
morals. They challenge the insttu-
lions Of society, not 10 the extent 10
which these fan short OF their ideal,
not with the idea of correcting their
abuses, not in any spirit Of helpful
ness, but utterly, 10 their very founda-
tons. In the conviction. boldly as
serted, that they are inherently and
irreparably wrong.
Absurd as may appear the impeach-
ment Of those things which the pros
ress OF civilization has shown to be
fundamental TO human happiness,
there Is no escaping The conclusion
that by il those who believe in Amer
lac are put upon the defensive. II
makes no difference that the challenge
comes from the ignorant. the shlfiless,
and the vicious, cleyerly urged on by
those whose livelihood Is the eXplOlta-
ton Of the dlstresses. and The hopes Of
the poor. II matters not how uni e.
hOnable may be the proposition that
those who have had no experience with
free government in Their own countries
should upon coming TO America, as
sumo TO instruct us in the nature Of
liberty and 20 reshape the arrangements
Tor preserving it which our people have
found satisfactory after more than a
century Of trial What does matter
very Jluch Is that the issue has been
drawn between two entirely different
conceptions Of soc ETY.. and that the pc
ruliar circumstances Of the time favor
the growth Of that which Is revolu.
tionary and wholly untried against that
which is established and the result Of
world-old development.
After four years Of warfare during
which the ordinary processes by which
men sustain life and conduct their re-
iations with one another have been up
yet 10 an extraordinary degree, the spir.
10 Of discomfort is nourlshed by innG-
merable conditions. lt IS q time when
boary wrongs are brought forward for
rightins, when forebodings as to the
future become clothed w IN the author
ity Of demonstrated facts. The atmos-
phere we breathe seems TO be charged
with dissatisfaction. There is a gen
Ural reaching out for new ideas upon
svery conceivable subject and excite
ment, has rendered the m nds Of great
hosts Of men receptive 20 the most BIZ
Earre suggestions. such q situation is
meat and drink. to the professional agi-
tatOr. Suppressed as they have been
during the war the fomentors OF dis
cord hsye now arisen with renewed
strength TO assal every effort made 70
guide the world back TO a normal con-
dition or 10 insure 1t against disturb
ance and war in the future
Let IL be remembered that the move
ment we are now considering is not a
democratic movement. Those who pro-
mote it do not believe in democracy.
They are enem es to the idea that the
people OF a country shall rule them
gelves either directly or indirectly
LALUukA llAEAA NAUEEA AEHl EEEulaNlN Et.s
Nor do they believe that the production
and distribution OF economic goods and
services should be carried on for the
benefit Of the people as a whole and
that those who participate in the ere
alton OF wealth should share in IL ac-
cording to the contribution they make.
It is the very heart Of their philosophy
hat both government and industry
ought TO be administered for their ex-
elusive benefit. They would abolish
private property because the posses
sion Of private property indicates a diff
ference between the native ability, the
industry, the farsightedness and the
thrift Of one man and the inability tho
iaz'ness the shiftlessness and the reck-
lessness Of another. Such distinctions
between individuals mey must perforce
admit but they deny the right Of the
individual TO be personally benefited
through his efforts, and affirm his obli-
CATION to support the man who makes
no effort at all. The absurdty involv-
ID in carrying their ideas to logical
conclusion they blandly ignore. They
refuse to consider a situation where
The accumulated capital Of the country
is exhausted and where its replace
ment is made impossible by the doc
tf'nes they preach.
Those who are directing this move
ment no longer conflne their propagan-
da to occasional meetings where the
elect gather to take inspiration from
The passionate appeals OF their leaders.
Gradually they have been obtaining
positions as teachers in the pubic
schools and as professors in our col
Ieges. They publish newspapers and
magazines. From each OF these van
tage points, unrestra'ned by any con-
siderations for the truths Of history or
the facts OF the present, they instiil
into the minds Of our boys and girls