The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-01-28

ed their liberties, every one mt the
cost of their blood, now supinely con-
sent to surrender these liberties, into
any mans hands, however specious'
the plea upon which their surrender
be sought. Are, then, the days Of
King John, at Runnymede, and the
days of Lenine to bound the gigantic
experiment of the freeman,s enjoy
lment of his rights?
"Public ownership! The railways
and express companies, the tele-
graphs, telephones, cables and wire
less, mines and oil wells, and water
Ipowers, the basic industries, thence to
the common machinery of life. Public
ownership! In Russia, it extends to
wives-and children. What, let rs
ask, is the great boon in exchange for
which the hard won right Of poses
sion is to be surrendered for all time
by the individual? Is it more prec-
ious right that comes to him in re-
turn? A fresh hold upon liberty? A
new moral conquest? 1t is none of
these; it is merely the fancied ad-
vantage of being able to buy the
goods and services he consumes at b
lower price. He is to sell, for cash,
this right that cost him his bloodi
"And what shall these citizens re-
ceive in exchange for their civil
rights, for their political independ-
ence, for their freedom of political
initiative? An easier berth, shelter
ed life, an opportunity to render less
service for higher pay. They, like the
consumer of goods and services, are
to sell their liberties for cash; but In
exchange for them the public servants
are to receive more money for less
service, whereas the consumer viii
expect to receive more service for
less money. Both cannot be paid their
price. If the consumer obtain his
consideration, the public servant will
be defrauded; if the public servant
receive his, the consumer will be de-
frauded. If justice between them be
done, and fair division be had, then
ineither will be better of than under
individual ownership, while both will
have lost for good traditional rights
[of enormous economic, moral and
political worth, and our government
will have been sent on it's way to be-
come an oligarchy.
"What is this spirit that would pull
from beneath us the very foundations
of the individualistic democracy of the
lAnglo-Saxon? Processing to be ideal
istic, it invites us to part with our
ideals of freedom in exchange for
material benefits, and insolently does
so in the very hour that has found US
! investing our every possession, our
| flesh and blood, in the preservation
Of the very liberties it now bids US
sell for ready money. This spirit is
not idealistic; it is sordid. 1t is not
Uplifting; it is debasing. 1t is not
constructive; it is destructive. 1t is
not native; it is alien. 1t is not
friendly; it is hostile. 1t is not for
the Anglo-Saxon; it is against him
Already its searching and inquisitive
| fingers are touching his vitals; viii
be gripping him shortly, and then
will be tearing them out, as it tore
out the vitals of Russia"
What would it profit US as social
workers if we should gain the whole
world of knowledge and equipment
and support and lose the environment
which makes men honest, reliant
HAPPY and independent? 1t is prac,
tical question and it should be given
a practical consideration.
Nothing could justify social work