Popular misgovernment in the United States

This early‑twentieth‑century essay surveys a period of intense political anxiety in the United States, arguing that the nation faces a serious danger from radical movements such as Bolshevism and socialism. The author traces the roots of that unease to a long‑standing distrust of political institutions and to the legacy of the Civil‑War era, suggesting that the current climate is ripe for subversive ideas to gain traction.

To counter the perceived threat, the writer proposes a radical restructuring of the electorate, limiting the vote to male private‑property owners of at least twenty‑five years of age. He contends that such a qualification would safeguard private‑property rights, preserve the republic’s foundational values, and restore confidence in democratic processes. The pamphlet blends historical references with a call for concrete legislative action, inviting readers to consider how the shape of the voting franchise might influence the nation’s future stability.