Alarmists who are forever crying about “the dangers of Socialism” remind one of that Scripture that tells of the fellow who “fleeth when no man pursueth.” There are comparatively few Socialists in the country. And if certain reforms are consummated there will be a less number. And there are mighty few Socialists who are “dangerous.”
In this connection may be noted an incident that occurred during the Cooper Union lecture course at New York City. It was claimed that the audiences, judged by their applause, were Socialistic. So a vote was taken. In one audience of 1,200 people there were less than twenty Socialists. Then this question was put to the audience: “Those who believe the time has come for the community to assert a larger control over the public enterprises, such as the trusts, railroads and public utilities, please rise.” The entire audience arose.
There are no “dangerous classes” in such an audience—a typical, intelligent public gathering. “The people will wobble right.” The people are discovering the wrongs in government and they are finding that they themselves are largely to blame for these wrongs. They find that they have neglected their rights. They have conferred special privileges. They have permitted aggressions. It is largely their own fault. They are beginning to see that. They want to correct their mistakes. They will correct them.
And those who cry “wolf” when the people are trying to get back their own are more dangerous than any others.—The Buffalo Times.
“Populist” is from the Latin word populus, meaning the people. “Populite,” which is used to a considerable extent in the South instead of Populist, is also from the Latin word populus. The original meaning of the words “populist,” “democrat” and “republican” is substantially the same.—The Missouri World.
Without vision a people perishes. The need for “seers” is greatest in a democracy where autocracy fails and the people must fall back upon broad instincts, intuitive reasoning and average intelligence. The poet-seer is the highest type of the visionary. His message comes in the form of rhythmic speech which has the widest carrying capacity. Poets, however, do not come into the world by accident. The poet comes only after preparation is made and reception is assured. For support he can depend no longer upon an indulgent king or upon patrons. Today the people stand in place of these. But as yet the collective mind has not worked out the problem of protection in spiritual properties. This is one of the main problems America has to meet: to create and sustain a race of poet-seers which will stand in right relation to the people and move in these broad lands as broad as they.—Tomorrow.
Monett, the Ohio lawyer, began the prosecution of the Standard Oil trust when the Government was fostering the trusts and the courts knocked him out. Now the Government begins to make signs that it is against the trusts and another case has been begun in Ohio. The courts will change their sides. Monett was downed by Rockefeller, beaten by the courts, and kicked out of the Republican Party. A nod from the President changed the whole situation.—The Nebraska Independent.