TO OUR FRIENDS AND PATRONS:

We appeal to all who are concerned in the people's cause to aid in its promotion. Friends of reform and freedom, you see THE ARENA battling for you: give us your assistance. It requires money as well as time and labor to carry forward the good work. You who are concerned in promoting the people's interest should aid in circulating this champion of truth and right. If you are earnest in your desires for our success, assist us by subscribing and by getting your friends to subscribe for THE ARENA.

We suffer at the hands of those who afflict you. They withhold their support and mock at the words reform and progress. They support those only that battle for special privilege and for the substitution of a plutocracy for the free Republic. We contend for honest government and for justice to all. Should we fail to prosecute this work, should we cease to cry out in defence of the under man, you would say that we also have yielded to the powers of concentrated wealth. Should failure come, let it come from the enemies of mankind, from the foes of progress and freedom, but not from the indifference of those who are at heart in sympathy with the oppressed, but whose only fault is apathy. Strengthen us, and thereby strengthen yourselves, by doing all that is in your power to increase the circulation of THE ARENA among the people. By this means we shall promote their education and hasten the coming of the better day—

"When man to man the world o'er
Shall brithers be and a' that."

The Arena and the American Institute of Civics.

The purchase by THE ARENA of the American Magazine of Civics and the transfer to this office of the subscription

lists and other assets of that magazine, seemed to promise well for all concerned. We have endeavored to fulfil our part of the agreement made with the President of the American Institute of Civics, and expect to complete our obligations to the subscribers of the Magazine which was the organ of that body. THE ARENA is not and has not been the organ of the American Institute, and no such thing has been contemplated. But we have attempted to furnish the Institute with a suitable vehicle for the transmission of its intelligence to its membership. was, therefore, a matter of surprise to receive from the President of the American Institute, under date of July 12th, 1897, the following communication: THE ARENA Co.

Copley Square, Boston, Mass.

Dear Sirs: It is evident that any arrangements for the future of a mutually helpful character, such as those proposed between the American Institute of Civics and THE ARENA magazine, are out of the question.

The Institute, while seeking to promote a thorough study of controversial questions, is not partisan. THE ARENA is looked upon as an advocate of special economic and social theories. This may explain matters. For example, while the Institute has sought to promote an intelligent understanding of both sides of the free-silver question, it has espoused neither side, while THE ARENA is regarded as a special advocate of free silver. The same is true of other questions. It would seem that very few of the Institute members, who have been receiving the Magazine of Civics, are in sympathy with THE ARENA in its leaning toward free silver and its attitude upon some other questions.

Under the circumstances you will doubtless agree with us that it is not wise to make any further attempt to establish coöperative relations between the Institute and THE ARENA. We are convinced that any such attempt on our part will be useless, and we therefore release you from the agreement to publish a special

page devoted to the Institute's announcements, and ask that you will discontinue the publication of that page. We will forward to you, in a few days, the names of Institute members who have expressed a desire to receive THE ARENA, with check to cover amounts payable on their account.

It was our expectation, perhaps unwarranted, that THE ARENA under its new ownership would treat controversial questions in the same impartial manner in which they were treated in the Magazine of Civics and are treated in the North American Review and Forum. If you are of the opinion that your interests will be best served by not doing this, we cannot say that you are mistaken, nor are we disposed to find fault with your decision. We have simply to accept the result, whatever our regrets. On behalf of the Institute,

Very truly yours,

H. R. WAITE, President.

To this communication the Editor replied as follows:

DEAR DOCTOR WAITE:

THE ARENA for August has gone to press carrying your article under the head of "The Civic Outlook." I think you will be pleased with it, though it does not include quite all of the material which we have in hand from you.

Your communication addressed to the Company has been sent to the proprietor, and you will, no doubt, hear from him in good time.

How anyone who is in favor of good government through good citizenship can reasonably object to THE ARENA is a thing which I am at a loss to understand. Good government through good citizenship is precisely what we are driving at; and the strange thing about it is that we mean what we say. If there be any class of people, or any combinations or organizations of men that pretend to be in favor of good government through good citizenship, and do not mean it, why then, to be sure, THE ARENA has nothing in common with them—and never will have until the present Editor be thrown by some unsuspected catapult over the moon.

The fact is, my dear Doctor, that we have come to the parting of the ways. They who believe in the preservation of free institutions; they who believe in the rights of man; they who believe in democratic government and in the preservation of that government for the people forever; they who believe in the people as a fact, but do not believe in plutocratic

domination, with the consequent destruction of all that has been most dear to us in this Republic, - must go one way; and they who believe that the Government of the United States, the great Republic, with our seventy millions of people, are no more than the tools and instruments of a money despotism, more tyrannical and desperate than any political power now prevalent in Europe, must go the other way.

We have come to the division of the road; but it is rather sad that they who ought to be engaged in a common cause are divided on a question of such vital importance as the preservation of the Republic from the intolerable greed and anti-democratic powers that now control it, and have controlled it for the last fifteen years. I assure you, Doctor Waite, that the grip of these powers on the throat of this Republic is going to be broken; and if THE ARENA can help to break it, why then, here we are. Yours truly,

JOHN CLARK RIDPATH. BOSTON, July 16, 1897.

In addition to the above correspondence, the Editor of THE ARENA referred the matter at issue to the proprietor, and had from him the following answer: DR. RIDPATH:

I bought from Henry Randall Waite, President of the American Institute of Civics, the American Magazine of Civics (the official organ of said Institute), to save it from getting into the hands of those who might have perverted the work and purpose its title implies. The agreement of sale specifies that I shall devote space in THE ARENA to the "Civic OutPresident look" and announcements. Waite's letter will explain itself to THE ARENA readers. Your reply should convince President Waite that THE ARENA is with the citizen for good government.

JOHN MCINTYRE.

The above correspondence and explanation are offered to the members of the American Institute of Civics and the general public as the reason for the discontinuance of relations with that body, not by our own act, but by that of the President of the American Institute.

Hon. Charles A. Towne.

Our readers will be delighted with the perusal of another powerful article, to

appear in the number for October, from the pen of the fearless and talented freesilver Republican leader, Hon. Charles A. Towne, of Minnesota. He handles his theme with the mastery of style and cogency of reason for which he is justly considered one of the ablest, as he is one of the most popular of our statesmen.

Concentration of Wealth, by Taubeneck.

IN THE ARENA for October, Herman E. Taubeneck will complete his great argument on the Concentration of Wealth, the first section of which appears in the current number.

Judge Walter Clark.

Justice Walter Clark is known as one of the foremost champions of the people's cause. His arguments and policies are always based on a true political philosophy. His article on "The Rights of the Public over Quasi-Public Services " in the October number will be welcomed as one of his finest contributions.

Mary Parmelee on Jefferson.

IN THE ARENA for October will appear a very able and instructive article by Mary Platt Parmelee on "Thomas Jefferson and his Political Philosophy." The contribution is timely, for it brings forcibly to mind the true Jeffersonian theory of Society and State.

Article by the Editor, on Prosperity.

In the number for October, the Editor of THE ARENA will present his views on 66 Prosperity, Real and Fictitious." In it he will show that the vociferation of the money power, crying prosperity, prosperity, when there is none, does not and cannot make prosperity, for the reason that prosperity begins in the capillaries of society, that is, among the producing industries.

A Symposium on Labor.

Three articles by working men, discussing the labor question from the

Besides the above sterling and wellselected array of articles befitting the spirit of the times, THE ARENA for October will contain the "Plaza of the Poets," with contributions by Ironquill of Kansas, Junius L. Hempstead, Clinton Scollard, Rubie Carpenter, Helena Maynard Richardson; also "The Editor's Evening," with a full quota of interesting brevities; also Book Reviews, announcements, etc. Our friends may look forward to the number for October with confidence that the ARENA banner will be still full high advanced.