The Inspiration of a Life There is looming up a new and dark power. I cannot dwell upon the signs and shocking omens of its advent. The accumulation of individual wealth seems to be greater than it ever has been since the downfall of the Roman Empire. The enterprises of the country are aggregating vast corporate combinations of unexampled capital, boldly marching, not for economic conquests only, but for political power. For the first time really in our politics money is taking the field as an organized power. *** Already, here at home, one great corporation has trifled with the sovereign power, and insulted the state. There is grave fear that it, and its great rival, have confederated to make partition of the state and share it as spoils. question will arise, and arise in your day, though perhaps not fully in mine, "Which shall rule-wealth or man; which shall lead—money or intellect; who shall fill public stations-educated and patriotic free men, or the feudal serfs of corporate capital?" * ** The Chief Justice Edward G. Ryan, Speech to Graduating Class, Wisconsin Law School, 1873. FOREWORD HE moral issues before the people of this country at the present. time are more momentous than at any other period since the foundation of the gov ernment. The Civil War solved the problem of secession and resulted in the emancipation of three million slaves. Today, violations of the Constitution are more flagrant and more dangerous to our institutions than was the attempt at secession, and the liberty of a hundred million people, white as well as black, is in jeopardy. The assurance that a higher and nobler democracy would be a result of the Great War has been found to be a mockery, the reverse of democracy being realized in a reign of terror and oppression. Public disillusionment has. been followed by doubt and indecision, and men and women are reaching out for the guidance of a political philosophy which is founded on principles of truth and justice and competent to meet the needs of the times. It is the purpose of this book to indicate where such a philosophy may be found and to present it it epitome. To the many busy men and women who cannot spare the time to read the entire articles or addresses, it will prove a valuable compendium. For the student or social worker it may serve as an ir.spiration to a more extended study of the subject. The citizen who wishes to understand the progressive movement in order that he may use his suf |