New-York tribune., 1920-04-02
The Expulsion

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bate at Albany was vociferous
agreement of both sides as to the
major premise. This was that the
Constitution must be respected. Sci
dom has the sacred instrument mus
tered in one company more active
friends.
But each side was sure the hands
Of the other were the profaning ones
and sought to drag down the sacred
pillars. Which is the moro Justly
accused? Against which is to be lev
eled the charge Of endeavoring to
nullify the essentials of our demo-
cratic institutions? According as
this question is answered the action
at Albany is likely to be approved or
disapproved. Let us consider for a
moment which way the balance tips.
The Socialist organization-fairly,
it seems to us-is not rated as
| friendly to Americanism. It's leaders
are largely men infected with the
Continental doctrine that an existing
government is not an agent of the
people, but per Sc alien and hostile
to the people. 1t is a revolutionary
rather than a reforming party, and
a large part of it would have revolu-
ton by force. 1t is not we'll to have
illusions concerning the latest devel
opments Of the gospel according to
St. Marx. The charge brought
against all Marxites rests on prob
able grounds. On the other hand,
the expellers personally are men
who love and would protect demo-
cratic institutions.
Yet in this particular case roles
are reversed. The Socialists stand
as the champions of constitutional
ism and orderly processes of law.
The case against the expelled So
cialists rested on false foundation.
1t was assumed they are repre-
sentatives Of the Socialists. They
are not such in legal or constitu-
tional sense. They are representa-
tives of the electors of definite as
sembly districts When a man goes
into polling booth he may privately
be Socialist, Republican, a Demo
crat or Prohibitionist, but he votes,
and votes only, as a citizen.
Whoever is elected sits not as
member of any party but as dele
gate Of citizens. When district is
denied freedom of choice blow is
leveled not only at our constitu-
tional system but at every demo-
cratic scheme Of government. In
the long struggle to realize liberty
the issue has been fought for a
thousand times. Until Mr.. Sweet
arrived it was supposed to be firmly
established.
But because vicious precedent has
been made it is not necessary on this
account to despair Of the Republic A
lynching has occurred, but the whole
fabric Of the law does not crumble
when there is a lynching. Other
days will come and men of sounder
and more discriminating American
ism will control other assemblies.
Our institutions are too seasoned, it
is to be hoped, to topple because Of
one case Of injustice. We should see
the incident as it is-as an episode
rather than as marking a turning
point in history. In palliation of the
wrong it may be plead that Socialists
Of the sort Of the excluded Assem-
blymen have made themselves most
obnoxious, and impatience, while in
defensble, is human and natural.
The better men and women of the
Socialist organization have an oppor-
tunity to turn the expulsion to their
party's benefit. For its own sake the
party has need to weed out of its
leadership the apostles Of hate and
Of destruction who too largely con-
troll it. When Socialists effectively
show they are citizens first the
prejudice Of which they now COM
plain will disappear Citizenship
furnishes a platform broad enough
for all to stand on. In the present
state Of the world no man can put
his party ahead Of his country and
do much good for himself or any one
else. The tendency of Socialistic
propaganda lately has been too
strongly toward repudiating the
obligations implicit in the social
bond, and the call on Socialists is to
become social.