| [untitled]      The national excitement and mourning 
              incident to the death of the peoples’ chief executive are giving 
              way to normal conditions, and the people are beginning to consider 
              in a dispassionate manner the wonderful changes that have taken 
              place in industrial affairs since the close of the civil war, and 
              to ask themselves if these changed conditions are not in some way 
              responsible for the terrible crime that has plunged not only our 
              own people, but the entire civilized world, in mourning. They know 
              that nothing exists without a cause. They see that the rural districts 
              and smaller towns are peopled with loyal, patriotic citizens—that 
              it is only in the densely populated industrial centers that anarchist 
              societies can thrive or even exist, and they are beginning to question 
              if it be not true that some of the old world conditions that breed 
              anarchy have not been allowed to creep into our industrial and social 
              affairs. Anarchy is a fungoid growth. It cannot exist except where 
              there is decay. People have also noticed with what unanimity the 
              great metropolitan papers have editorially pointed out the fact 
              that Socialism and anarchy are as opposite as the poles; and today 
              no well informed person, unless he be a hypocrite and a knave, would 
              be guilty of using the words as synonymous. True, there are benighted 
              places like Sedalia, Mo., where they have refused to allow the Socialists 
              to meet in state convention, that still look upon Socialism as something 
              dangerous, (but this is true only of a few localities where the 
              m[?]s upon the epidermis of the citizens is sufficient to hide their 
              nakedness.) But thanks to an enlightened press, they are few indeed. 
              Honest, intelligent, patriotic citizens know there is something 
              radically wrong in the industrial affairs of this country and of 
              the world. They know that neither of the great parties have presented 
              a remedy, and that it must be looked for elsewhere. They are ready 
              to investigate and to listen to reason. Though the noisy, ignorant 
              few may howl and gnash their teeth, they are not formidable; intelligent 
              men and women are looking for light, and will accept the truth if 
              rightly presented. It is the Socialist’s opportunity, and every 
              lover of liberty and justice who has dreamed of the brighter and 
              better days that will be ushered in with the coming of the Co-operative 
              Commonwealth, should remember that “the dreams that nations dream 
              come true,” and consecrating himself anew to the cause of humanity, 
              should push the propaganda work with renewed vigor. This is no time 
              for cowardice or shirking. The dream of a brighter day bids us arise 
              and haste [sic] to the task before us. Let us do our duty, that 
              justice may rule in the hearts and minds of men, that our children 
              and future generation may bless us for sacrifices made, and that 
              the stars and stripes may be in truth what the patriot fathers intended 
              they should be—the emblem of liberty. |