Evening star., 1922-04-09

wrong in the state. tkat all 1t
needs 10 reformation.
We fought our civil war osten-
sibly to preserve the Union, but
in reality to free the slave. We
reformed the American republic in
rived at a true idea of the princi-
Piles OF democracy uptil the van
quished were reborn to a knowl-
edge of the fact that human slav-
cry was not only opposed to good
morals but was inimical to the
vital principles OF a democracy.
For years not only laboring
men but large part of the Amer
lean people not commonly de-
CALLED by the exactions of the
money power in our social and
and political life. OF course
what money needed was regene-
ration and reconsecration to the
purposes for which 1t was made
q medium of exchange. But we
did not understand how it could
be- regenerated. Nor had we any
conception Of the necessity for
who called themselves "laboring
men" banded themselves together
to resist the encroachment of what
they called predatory wealth."
And now it seems that certain of
their organizations which were
going to reform our economic
system have converted themselves
into predatory institutions.
Some of the reformers of 'preda-
tory wealth" concluded that the
way to reform it was to limit the
productive capacity of the individ-
ual workman; to force employers
to purchase material wherever
their organizations said, and at
such prices as they might desig-
nate. The reformers forced men
to join their organizations or go
without work. They failed to rec
ognize principles Of democracy based
upon the inherent rights of the indi-
vidual man.
Our patriotism has not been en-
tirely satisfactory. but we have not
sought to regenerate 1t. 1t does
not seem to dawn upon our minds
that love of America is not cir
cumscribed by waving the flag
and proclaiming adherence to our
institutions Unfortunately. the
Constitution OF the United States
limits treason to the actual levy
ing Of war against the govern
ment. So, most of US believe that
we are perfectly good Americans
II we only say we are. and that it
Is fmmaterfal how we take ad-
vantage Of our government.
During the war many were
roughly handled because they did
not engage in the war activities.
Public sentiment tried them for
treason when they did not sub
scribe for bonds. Some were just
ly and some were unjustly con-
victed at this bar. Nevertheless,
hamingly alive to our civic duties
and we were all convinced that
our government was entitled to
our lives. our fortunes and our
sacred honor. Latterly most of us
have been scrutinizing our yearly
income to see how little we could
report and how much credit we
could take and avoid prosecution.
Our government has obligations
untold. They were contracted with
our assent-nay, more. at our re-
quest. Instead of attempting to
avoid them, it ought to be our
pleasure to meet them. Instead
of seeking to reform the economic
system, we ought to be reborn
into such a patriotic life that we
would understand that our gov
ernment comes first of all and that
whatever it needs for the main
tenance OF its honor 1t ought to
get out Of US without the use of a
corkscrew. We ought to be glad
to contribute. The patriotism of
the war was sporadic. If under the
blessings of peace we think more
OF our bullion than we did Of our
blood.
The bonus may be a reforma-
tory effort to get even with the
profiteer by an appropriation by
the Congress. AS such 1t is as
good as any that has been devised.
But I still wonder whether there
are not thousands, yes hundreds of
thousands. Of service men who
would rather just let the record
stand as it stands, and say to their
government: DO everything for
those who suffered in mind and
body. AS for ourselves, we are
content with duty nobly done"
That is why q referendum should
be conducted. Let each man speak
his mind. If the bonusl is passed
without a universal expression, all
service men will be thought to want
1t. All will then accept 1t. Now is a
good time to file what lawyers call
a disclaimer.
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