Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-27

No. The single argument has been
advanced that such Immigration Will
bring money into the state. 5ss3
Center Of Theories.
And this is where Townley democ-S
racy begins and ends: It's champions
do not refer to any factors that make
Tor content and happiness but the
single one of money. On that every
thing hinges, it seems. All the talk
about democracy here has been re.
duced to a discussion OF money,
money. and more money. In order to
get more money Into the state" the
process Of creating discomfort else
where will have to be gone through
with.
Reasoning further along perfectly
logical lines. n arrives at the con-
clusion that where discomfort is stir
red up. Socialism is most effectively
applied.
In other words: What Is to be
taught all those benighted people OUT
side North Dakota, is not democracy
but Socialism. What is tt be attain
ed. gradually at least, is the establish
ment. OF a communistic common
wealth-and the history of political
SSO1lOAAAS COlLdluS no TCCOTU OIL AAS1@
ING creations Of this kind.
The LMro Of Words.
1t is not impossible that the propa-
gandists of the Nonpartisan league
would be able to convince a number
Of people that they speak the truth
when they refer to North Dakota as
a state where democracy is safe"
under the present regime.
Words have always had a peculiar
fascination for those who do not
issue is presented. it is very easy to
convince. Furthermore. democracy
is such an impressive word that it
can be used for almost any purpose.
1t isn't always required by the agita-
tor hat his auditor think-in fact,
he'd better not think, for when
thinking starts. opposition begins.
The state propagandists Of North
Dakota may go into other states urg-
ing that life is ideal where democracy
is safe, n only in comparatively few
cases will people. stop to ask: Well,
now-lS it safe? Where are your
proofs?
Generally speaking, people do NOT
reflect; it is easier to simply take a
thing for granted. When the asser-
ton is made that North Dakota's po-
litical conditions are ideal. hope that
1t may really be so. takes the place
Of doubt, and reason ceases to func-
ton. The psychology OF the masses is
a new field that has been thoroughly
studied by all reformers Of extremist
cults with the result that they know
as perfectly as actors the art Of
making impression" upon others.
and when they. in addition. employ
an elaborate apparatus OF pictures
and phAfnVfo thaxy 1rpi11 @Rka- .AJ>
to conquer whatever scepticism lin
gers in the soul Of the prospective
North Dakota immigrant.
Nothing is Conceded.
In making the broad claim that the
people rule in North Dakota, the
preachers Of the new doctrines never
concede that anything formerly exist
ing in he state was worth retaining.
All the institutions that have grown
on the soil of North Dakota as the re-
suit Of the industry and the intelli-
gence of the inhabitants Of the state
are to be discarded. Only the brand
only that legislation which has been
carried through at he jnstigation Of
men from Minnesota and Montana
and California is worth while.
Some day the people Of North Da-
kota will laugh at the whole ridicu-
IouS perfOrmance-f things have not
deteriorated so badly that they can
no longer laugh or Jest. Some day
when the spell is broken, an innocent
individual may naively burst out, as
did h child in the story about the
emperor's new clothes: why, he has
nothing on! And it may be that
others will come to that conclusion,
also.
There are interesting signs now ap-
parent which show that Townley-
democracy is not as safe a wa
thought a few months ago; little
things happen here and there indi-
eating that an increasing number Of
people are realizing that what they
have been recently witnessing in
North Dakota was a consistent and
systematic use OF the trick Of camou-
flage.
Some truths have been uttered so
often that they become trite, but they
are apt. just the same; to this class
belongs the sentence which is merely
the concrete expression Of a law OF
nature: History repeats itself.
If any considerable number Of PEG.
pie from other states ever come here
enticed by the deceptive claim that
democracy is safe" the reaction will
be sure to come. and like a glacier
from tho peaks of the highest noun
tains it will rush down and destroy
that whole system sof political artifice
which has been laboriously built UP
in this state for no other purpose
than those which benefit the autocra-
cy robinE itself magniacently in the
mantel OF democracy.