Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1924-01-11
Discard The Bad and
Preserve The Good
BY MATTHEW WOLL
President, International Labor Press of America.

In these days of violent agitation should reflect
that the progress of the past has been accomplished not
by the total overthrow of institutions much by pre-
serving that which was good.
Nearly all nations of Europe finding themselves
in whirlpool of conflicting economic and political forces
each striving for supremacy The ideals and methods of
democracy being tried before in this struggle
for mastery.
There nine distinct personal relationships on
the continent of Europe Germany, Russia, Turkey Hun
gary, Greece Italy Bulgaria and SPAIN all have either
suspended superseded constitutional government and
entrusted their destiny to the unfetered judgment of
dictatorship These dctators are today irremovable
cept by force and they governed without any control
by any elected assembly Europe today is upheava of
revolutions and relationships
The two most notable dctaors of Europe, represent
ing Numerically opposite schools of thought and of
economic and political relationships are Lenne and Mus
soni the typfyng Soviet Russia the other Fascist
Italy Both forces ypfy the desire of class dictate
to whole nation and by ruling few to the ruling class
These two governments differ only in the class that DOM
mates and the regime that controls.
In Soviet Russia Lenne is the uncrowned despot; on
the other hand Musson is the unbeknighted yrant One
speaks in the language of the proetarat while the other
rants in the language of the bourgeois Both join in the
condemnation of the ideals and principles of democracy
and defy license in place of liberty.
Both systems of government deny the freedom which
has animated democracies and has elevated the impulses
man. The contrast between the democracy of America of
Great Britain of France is distinguished from the desnot
ism of Russia and Italy in the failure of the peoples of the
latter nations to enthusiastically operate demo-
cratic governments. They overthrow des-
pot but that they Immediately lapse into anarchy and fall
into the power of a new tyrant
The force of intelligent consideration and the practice
of fair play essential to all permanent and
free institutions. That is why the United States Britain
British Domnons and France have Jared so we'll as demo-
cracies Other nations which have won their freedom
later less marked with these essential requirements
/ The old world is indeed, going through most trying
struggle and the culture of modern democracy called on
to defend itself more than before against the nroad
of autocracy and despotism Freedom is at death grips
with license; right is engaged in lifes struggle against
blind and fanatic might
Fortunately for the peoples of the world that Amer
ca the worlds greatest democracy looms forth like a
beacon light to guide the and destiny of the unfor
tnate peoples of Europe and is holding steadfast the
torch of freedom that will lead the nations of Europe out
OF the present Wilderness confusion and strife Indeed
we have just cause for the belief and conviction that the
stability of our institutions and steady progress in the
development of democracy in adapting itself to changing
social and economic conditions the one bright hope for
the freedom Of the people and democracy of the nations
J of the old world ~ ~