The citizen., 1920-10-07
CAMPAIGN OF 1920
VII Progressives and "Reaetionaries"



information which will be in point as
applicable TO the Campaign Of 1920.
In doing this, the writer does not
deny that, when referring TO a policy
which seems vicious or a candidate
deemed unsafe, he has an earnest
hope that what he says may, TO some
extent, influence the votes of those
who consider carefully the facts and
thoughts presented.
In matters political, taking in the
whole range of measures discussed,
people Of different temperaments
might be arranged in two classes. The
two words at the head Of this article
"Progressives and Reactionaries"-
will give some idea of my meaning.
These seem now to be the favorite
terms with the newspapers and stump
speakers Of one of the two great po-
litical parties. OF course I refer to
the one supporting James M. Cox
for the presidency. They glorify the
word progressive and seek to attack
approbrium to the word Reactionary.
No one perhaps uses these terms more
frequently than the above-named
candidate himself In the main, how
ever, he seeks for some more re-
proachful word by which to charac-
terize those who stand in the way of
the qualification Of his ambition. At
this point it is well to remark that
our two topic words are not the proper
ones to fairly express the difference
between people of the opposite camps.
The term Radicals and Conserva-
tives" would be a juster one.
It should be borne in mind that not
all change is real progress. If the
word progressive" be used in the
sense Of favoring improvements, then
we all are Progressives. There may
be found, among the vicious elements,
some sad exceptions; but the great
mass Of our people want that done
which will be best for our country.
This, in some instances, may be the
destruction of some existing institu-
tion and the setting up of new ones.
This would be radical" In another
case real progress and improvement
calls upon us to strengthen what now
exists. This would be conservative"
Indeed the part Of wisdom sometimes
may be to effect a change of base,
not by stepping out into the unknown
but by retracing the steps, so as to
occupy a position too soon abandoned.
This, according to the literal mean
ing of the word. would be reaction
ary" and really the very highest wis
dom. We all use the term "Conserva-
ton" in marked approval of guarding
from waste, in time like this, our
nations stock of food, clothing, and
natural resources of all kinds. The
same wise policy, as to worthy insti-
tutions and arrangements-educ
al, political or religious-will make
the word conservative" one Of the
noblest in our vocabulary. The truly
wise man is both conservative and
progressive. This will make him a
radical" when evif~should be eradi-
Gated; a "standpatter," when exist
ing conditions are safe and sane; and
a "reactionary," whenever hasty i'm
pulse has already carried us too far.
We may readily see that, when
parties and candidates have announced
their positions as to several pro-
posed measures, one may be more
progressive in one case and the other
more progressive in another case.
And, in each instance, whether radi-
calism or conservatism is the sound
policy is a question to be decided up
on it's merits. If the test as to pro-
gressiveness OF the reverse be ap-
piled to the two parties now seeking
the support of the people, some in
teresting facts are brought to light.
When Shareholders proposed to take
their so-called property, in slaves, in
to our vast domain west Of the Mis-
s;ssippi, Republicans insisted that the
government take measures to insure
that our territories should forever be
the home of freemen. The Demo
cratic party cringed before the de-
mands of the slave power. When
armed rebellion sought to break our
Union into fragments, Republicans
everywhere declared that the Union
must be preserved at whatever cost.
The Democratic party, by attempts at
compromise and in other ways,
sought to embarrass the general gov
ernment Which was the progressive
party then? The great progressive
movement of enfranchising women be-
comes an accomplished fact by the
constitutional amendment being rati-