The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-08-20

are workable examples of workable So
cialistic schemes. Some think our rail-
roads should be nationalized; others
point out the dangers OF such plan,
and in this respect we point out the
sorry plight of the Canadian govern
ment-owned railroads. The greatest
trouble about the naturalization Of
any industry is politics. The better
plan seems to be private ownership and
government supervision. Introduce
socialism and you rob men Of initia-
tive, and they become spineless work
ers.
In dealing with reforms in the body
polite one must always consider hu-
man nature; If men were perfectly I'M
selfish, without moral flaw or blemish,
spiritually inclined, willing to surren-
der their individual wills, altruistic.
and what not, such schemes as social
ism might be effective. We do not say
1t would prove so, but human nature
being what it is without much
chance of change this side OF the
gravel, socialism and communism are
doomed to failure, and the present
condition of Russia will ever be the
terrible example Of the last analysis
of socialism or communism.
This is the sort Of substitute serious
" proposed by radical agitators in
America for our present beneficent in
situations, our constitution framed by
great men, under which for over a CEN
fury and a quarter America has pros
pered with greater individual freedom
than any country in history.
mi
one. It is a government Of power, and
not of law. 1t has produced poverty,
disease and misery unspeakable. It is
the natural thing to feel secure from
any such scheme in this country in its
entirety, but the constant appeals to
prejudice against those who are sue
cessful, with the suggestion that I'M
der our system of government no man
can succeed by honorable methods,
the claim that only the small group
who take to themselves the exclusive
use of the word workers" coupled |
with the assertion that all who are not |
members of the group are leeches and |
a burden on society, do appeal to the |
ignorant, and in many cases to the I'M |!
successful, who are not ignorant. The |
public mind is being poisoned. by this |
constant flood of writings that is Of |
fered for sale on every news stand.
It may be used that we should not be |
undu1y alarmed in our free America by
the mouthings of this sort of people. |
That is true, if the public intelligence
and conscience are aroused; but it !
must be remembered that these people
are organized; that they are particu-
larly strong in the centers of popula-
ton, and are faced and combatted only
by the unorganized conscience Of our
people. It has been estimated by COM
petent writer's that less than two per
cent Of the people Of France believed In
the bloody methods of the French Rev
olution, the remaining SO percent were
either Indifferent or inarticulate.
Under the impetus of war the pa
triotic spirit of our country rose so
nigh as to overcome these agitators,
out that spirit so abundant in those
lays has subsidized. The work Of the
agitators goes on forever.
Methods are provided in our Consti-
luton (Which stands for liberty and
ustice), to make any changes neces-
,ary, so let us be true to the funda-
mental principles which our govern
nent is founded on.