" iwnmHmmSSmSSgEnS
&
U 'APRIL 7, 1905
While the harsher features of government are
destined to diminish, the cooperative part of gov
ernment is likely to increase. That is, the gov
ernment will find it wise to do, as a community,
.what individuals can not so well do for themselves,
and what private corporations can not bo trusted'
to do. For instance, the federal government has
found that it can distribute the mails better than
they could be distributed by a private corporation,
and probably better than they could be by any
.voluntary co-operative society.
In the cities it has" been found necessary to
furnish water from some central source. In the
modern city or even in any town of any consider
able size the system of individual wells is not
possible. The city must either supply this water
and distribute the expense, or it must be supplied
by a private corporation. Experience shows that
tfle government, acting for the people, can furnish
a better service at a lower price than it is fur
nished by private corporations.
To be sure, if every citizen lived according to
the ideal presented by Tolstoy, the evils that have
attended the private ownership of city water
plants would largely disappear, but the universal
acceptance of this ideal, desirable as it is, is still
some distance away.
. While Tolstoy has been described as a philo
sophical anarchist, he must not be confused with
the anarchist of whom the various countries have
practical knowledge. The man who argues that
the individual members of society should be so
regenerated that no compulsive force would be
necessary to maintain order and establish justice,
and who seeks to secure this regeneration by
moral suasion and the practice of non-resislance to
evil, is a very different man from the one who
with knife or pistol or bomb attempts the removal
of those in authority. The former is a leavening
force which makes for the betterment of the indi
vidual, while the latter is a destructive "force and
retards the progress of reform.
Tolstoy asserts'That the only possibility of
a change of the general policy of the government
lies in perfecting he individual morally and relig
iously. When there is a general respect for oth
ers," he declares, "lack of gentleness, hatred and
brute force all disappear."
In comparing Russia with other countries,
Tolstoy says that while other countries 'have a so
called "free and independent press, its freedom is
only apparent." He declares that the whole press
is controlled by wealthy persons who admit no ad
vancement of the people. While it is true that a
great many papers are controlled by corporations
and used to advance schemes of spoliation, it is
not true that all of the press is so controlled or
employed. There are in all countries papers that
are strenuously defending the rights of the people
and the rights of the people are better protected
where these papers exist.
The industrial question which Tolstoy regards
as most important to the people is the land ques
tion. He declares that the central problem is the
nationalization of land, he being a believer in the
single tax theory advanced by Henry George.
But whatever one may think of Tolstoy's
views of the ultimate substitution of self-contro.l
for government, no one can doubt that he has
contributed enormously to the moral forces which
tend to lift man above the brutal, the physical and
the material into the realm where reason and con
science direct and guide.
JJJ '
WORTH REWARDED
Mr. Wm. H. Berry has been elected mayor of
the city of Chester, Pa. This item might seem of
little importance to the casual reader, but when
it is remembered that Chester is strongly repub
lican and that Mr. Berry is a radical free silver
democrat, it is a matter of more significance. It
.is gratifying to know that a man of his character
and ideals is put in a position where the public
can profit by his services. It is a tribute to the
intelligence of his community as well as to him
self. The Commoner extends congratulations.
AN HEROIC ATTACK
Rev. Washington Gladden, pastor of the First
Congregational church of Columbus, Ohio, and
moderator of the general council of Congrega
tional churches of the nation, in a sermon recently
delivered in his own pulpit, directed a philippic
against the acceptance of the $100,000 offered by
Rbckefeller'to the board of missions of the Con
gregational 'church. It is a bugle note and, coming
as it does from one so high in his denomination,
will have great weight. It is an heroic attack
upon the plan proposed by the trusts for subsidiz
ing our churches and colleges into silence upon the
The Commoner
iniquities of vtho privato monopoly. Mr. Gladdon's
remarks are quoted on page six, under tho head
of "Current Topics."
JJJ
MEXICO DESERTS SILVER
The press dispatches announco that President
Diaz has agreed to the suspension of tho coinago
or silver with tho value qf tho silver dollar fixed
i PMcntB as -compared with gold. This action
is nailed with great delight by tho advocates of
5
tho gold standard. Tho editor of Tho Commoner
belloves that Mexico has acted unwisely in yield
ing to tho demand of tho money changers, but it
is hardly to bo expected that Moxlco could hold
out when tho Unitod Statesso much greater in
its commercial strength has witnessed a triumph
of tho financiers ovor tho producers.
Every now nation going to tho gold standard
increases tho demand for gold and hastens tho
tlmo whon another era of rising dollars will com
pel the world to study tho money 'question again.
FROM ALL SECTIONS OF COUNTRY
From all sections of tho country come substan
tial assurances that Tho Commoner's efforts arc
appreciated. Tho special subscription offer ap
pears to be growing in favor.
John W. Miller, Snohomish, Wash., under
date of March 25, writes: "Enclosed please find
postoffice money order for $3 in payment of the
enclosed list of five subscribers."
A Seattle, Wash., reader, under date of March
25, writes: "Herewith money order for $3 in pay
N ment for the list of five subscribers enclosed, ac
cording to the terms of your lots of five plan."
A Kansas City reader, under date of March 27,
writes: "I hand you herewith draft for $12 in pay
ment for the enclosed list of twenty subscribers,
at your rate of 60 cents per year in lots of five or
more. It required two hours to got this list. I
expect to add to It soon."
C. Wichterman, Woodsfleld, Ohio, under date
of March 25, writes: "Herewith find money order
for $3 in payment of enclosed list of five sub
scribers, according to your club rates."
W. A. Werts, Sr., Aledo, 111., under date of
March 27, writes: "You will find enclosed money
order for $4.20 for which you will please send
The Commoner one year to tho enclosed list of
seven names."
Mrs. Rebecca C. Thomas, Nelson, Pa., writes:
"Herewith find money order for $3.60 to pay for
the following list of six subscribers."
Mrs. Sarah J. Wright, Montrose, Iowa, writes:
"Enclosed find money order for $3. to pay for tho
following list of five subscribers."
A St. Louis, Mo., reader writes: "Enclosed find
my check for $15 to pay for the enclosed list of
twenty-five subscribers to The Commoner."
W. D. Burdltt, West Lafayette, Ind.: "I hand
you herewith list of five subscribers and money
order for $3 in payment of the same."
D. H. Sweet, Thompsonville, 111.: "I am
pleased to hand you herewith list of five sub
scribers and $3 to pay for the same."
D. N. Clark, Tarkio, Mo., under date of March
3, writes: "I enclose herewith $3 to pay for five
yearly subscriptions to The Commoner."
W. T. Bland, Bourbon, Ind., writes: "Here
with find money order for $6 to pay for the en
closed list of ten subscribers. I have gotten up a
club for The Commoner each year since it com
menced publication."
N. P. Rasmusson, Valley City, N. D., March 24,
writes: "Enclosed find my check for $3 to pay
for The Commoner for one year to be sent to tho
enclosed list of five subscribers."
C. J. Donahue, East Smithfield, Pa.: "I hand
you herewith list of six subscribers and money to
pay for the same, at your sixty cent rate."
A Clinton, N. X, subscriber writes, under date
of March 22: "Herewith find list of six subscrib
ers and $3.60 to pay for tho same at your sixty
cents clubbing rate."
A New York reader, under date of March 23,
writes: "I hand you herewith list of nineteen sub
scribers and check for $11.45 to pay for the same,
according to your sixty cent clubbing rate."
Dr. Robert T. Miller, Logansport, Ind., March
23, writes: "The following named ten men all live
at Logansport. I eiiclose money order for $6 to
pay for The Commoner to be sent each of them
for one year."
Trlplett & Reynolds, Perry, 111., March 25,
writes: "Kindly send The Commoner to the fol
lowing five named persons. Enclosed find money
order for $3."
John M. Reiss, Louisville, Ky., writes: "En
closed find money order to pay for five subscribers
for The Commoner as follows. Later I may get
two or three more subscribers."
J. F. Howard at Stockpoint, la.: "Herewith
find $8.40 to pay for the enclosed list of thirteen
subscribers."
An Oklahoma City, Okla., reader writes:
"Find herewith money order for $3 to pay for the
enclosed club of five subscribers."
G. W. Foster, Noblo, Okla., writes: "I am glad
to hand you herewith flvo subscriptions and money
order to pay for tho same at clubbing rates."
W. C. Payne, at Keonava, W. Va.: "Herewith
find money ordor for $3 to pay for enclosed list
of five subscribers."
Henry Ulricli, Dlllonvale, Ohio, writes:
Please send Tho Commoner one year to each of
the following fivo names. Find money order en
closed to pay for same."
John M. Wicklzer, Argus, Ind.: "I hand you
herewith flvo now subscribers and money order
for $3 to pay for same."
John N. Peters, Copeland, W. Va.: "Herewith
please find money order for $3 to pay for tho en
closed list of five subscribers."
Dr. L. J. Bavery, Aldreson Va., writes: "It
affords me pleasure to hand you herewith list of
fivo subscribers and money order for $3 to pay for
the same."
Dr. C. F. Taliaferro, Birch wood, Tenn.: "I
hand you herewith seven subscriptions to Tho
Commoner and $4.20 to pay for same according to
your clubbing rates."
R. L. Edwards; Dexter, Ore., writes: "Here
with find money ordor for $3.60 to pay for tho
enclosed list of six subscribers."
Elbrldge Miller, Watertown, Ohio: "Pleaso
send The Commoner one year to each of tho fol
lowing five names. Find money order enclosed for
same."
Eugene Karts, St. Louis, Mo., writes: "Find
herewith list of nine subscribers with money ordor
for $5.40. If my health gets better I expect to do
some hustling for you."
A Valley Junction, Wis., reader writes:
"Please send The Commoner to the following fivo
names for one year. Find money order for $3 to
pay for same."
R. T. Daly, Renville, Minn., writes, under date
of March 25: "I herewith enclose check for $3 to
pay for list of flvo subscribers."
According to the terms of tho special sub
scription offer, cards, each good for ono year's
subscription to The Commoner will be furnished
in lots of five, at the rate of $3 per lot This
places the yearly subscription rate at 60 cents.
Anyone ordering these cards may sell them
for $1 each, thus earning a commission-of $2 on
each lot sold, or he may sell them at tho cost
price and find compensation in tho fact that ho
has contributed to the educational campaign.
These cards may be paid for when ordered, or
they may be ordered and remittance made after
they have been sold. A coupon is printed below
for the convenience of those who desire to partici
pate in this effort to increase The Commoner's
circulation.
THE COMMONER'S SPECIAL OFFER
Application for Svbscrfptlan Card
10
15
20
25
50
75,
100
Publisher Commoner; I am Interested la !
creasing The Coram oner4 circulation, and de
sire you to send me a supply of subscription
cards. I agree to use my utmost endeafor to sell
the cards, and will remit for them at the rate of
ft cents each, when sold.
NasM
Box, or Street Ke, .
p.a
Jtate
Indicate tfeeamrber of cards wanted by mark
In Xoppoetteoaeof the numbers printed c
end ol this Mank.
Jf you btUatethe paper it doing aicorkthat mrM$
eticouragcnumi, fXL mt the above coupon and maUit
ta Tbo CocMMoaw, Urncd, Tide,
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