The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-11-27
A ReCediRg Tide

The great tide OF radicalism is re.
ceding. Anarchy is reduced TO its last
extremity in Russia, the land Of its
birth. Deprived Of external sustenance
by its own acts, it has ol late been
feeding upon its own body and growing
weaker every Day. II cannot live be-
cause it is violently in opposition to
the fundamental laws Of nature and 10
the essential laws Of civilization. In
Germany it has had its brief hour and,
to all appearances, has vanished from
the scene. In England anarchy at no
time gained a loothold but radicalism
OF less extreme form found q large
following. 1t too is rapidly receding
and the country is settling down to a
condition Of permanent stability that,
however different it may be from the
old state, will be founded upon law
and order. And now France has
proven by lis elections that radicalism
in that country has been but the san
guine foam upon the waves OF a deep
sea. The forces Of radicalism, where
ever they exist, are limited to minor
ily. This is true, and has al! the time
been true, even in Russia. It is not
their magnitude but their violence and
the destructive tendencies Of their ap'
piled theories destructive to all that
civilization cherishes-that make them
a serious menace to mankind. And
France, once the center Of the greatest
outbreak of red radicalism in history
up to the revolution in Russia, has de-
lberately and most emphatically reject
ed the movement.
Returns from twenty nine districts
reported yesterday showed radicals de-
ieated, in the elections for the Cham
ber Of Deputies, in every one Of them,
Republicans. winning ten seats, Pro-
gressives nine and Liberals ten. Sew
enteen Of these seats have been held
by Radicals and ten by Socialists, indi-
eating not only that radicalism has
made no progress from the events Of
the war, but that that which existed
has been swept out. The result is
more than a vindcation OF the policies
Of the Clemenceau Government; it is
a reaction toward the same conservatism
that has usually characterized the great
mass Of the French people. Radical
ism may have its day and its following
in the industrial centers, but the agri
cultural population and the millions
who are outside the organized workers
will have none OF it. The peasantry Of
France, the Little shopkeepers Of the
innumerable villages, their like in the
cities, and the business men Of larger
interests, are essentially conservative.
and the impressive events Of the past
few years have made them more so
rather than less. Nor is it true that
even among the organized workers Of
France radicalism has a majority. It
has never had, although it has been
exceedingly noisy and active, making
the sound and appearance Of msgni'
tude which never existed.
The tide, we repeat, Of radicalism is
receding. And il is no less true that
it is receding in America. It has
needed but the realization OF its ex.
istence and its dangers TO arouse The
people Of this county to repudia,e il
and TO begin to suppress it. 1t is no,
and can never be 10 harmony with
American principles, Dor with the deep
feeling, the inherent righteousness, ol
the American people. 1t is still 8
menace, a serious one. We cannot