New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-26
simple Truths.


that seems TO threaten existing abuses, IS
at first sight amazing. Let the meekest
Quaker say, for instance, that ne thinks
Slavery wrong. and that 1t ought to be
eiyen up, and he is at once charged with
instigsting the Slaves to cut their masters
,b,osts. Let sincere, spiritual Christian
reprove some glazing abuse in the churches
and he is very readily chalked down an In
6del. Harder still is the lot OF the Social
lat. so called; for be strikes at a wider cir
Gle of abuses, many of them more invete-
rate than Slavery or SimOny' and 80 pro-
vokes more enemies and gives wider
range for Misrepresentation. He is at once
an Ararian, an Infdel, an Anarchist, a
Libertine, and as many other hard names
rs there are separate abuses threatened by
the accomplishment of complete Social
Rsform. Hence the necessity of stating
and restating such simple first truths as the
following. They are given 10 the Pits
6wgh Post as Introductory to series in
reply to the question,
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM
Socialism is tie combination Of all for the vel.
fare Of each. That 10 its essence when stripped
of everything adventurous, foreiga and extrinslc
n IL and viewed apart from all such sccompsni-
ments a. arise solely from the peculisrities char
acter, customs, religion, &c, &c, of the people
bv whom IL In adopted. Socialism s that system
OF philosophy which endesvors TO increase the
energy, virtue and happiness OF every community
by 90 banding its members together In their In
terests and labors that Whatever there 10 OF good
ness and power in each may be reflected upon
all; and the combined life and influence oil all
concentrated and conveyed upon each, 30 that
every individual may commend for his own de-
veopment and happiness the entire resources
wisdom and power Of the whole community
Socialism seeks 10 bring men together Ia such a
way that they may be OF the greatest use TO each
other IL aims to bring into play all the instru-
mentslities the MEANS and influences, that are
required 10 draw out the fullest efficiency, talent
and virtue Of every man. woman and child, and
turn them in full tide 10 augment the general well
fare and on the other hand, 1t seeks TO concen.
trate impsrtiAlly and without stint the general
resources to provide for the ample education and
healthy human development Of each individual.
1t recognises the great fact, that the members OF
the social body like the members OF the human
body, are ali mutually dependant; that each lndl-
vdua character, has also q distinct junction
which cannot be discharged properly except in
concert with the reciprocal and varied functions
of the other members-and that Tor this purpose
this community must be a united one Socialism
IL nothing new. 1t 10 an eternal truth and fact OF
human life now brought Ia Gods providence,
more prominently before mems attention, only
that it may be more thoroughly understood and
fttingy applied All in present civilization
that is promotive OF human happiness is owing to
the Socialism il contains, which 10 potent for good
only so far as it comedies with the outward mani
~ N md nj 'hriat
all its vice and misery are the results OF its anti
social and anti christian features Wherever
cities States, nations, combine their energies Tor
the common welfare, there you find Socialism;
and the greater the number Of objects for which
such combination 10 entered upon, aud the more
perfect and free the organization and graduation
OF functions for its accomplishment, the purer ls
the Socialism. Thus, when the people OF any
city combine their means to erect public water
works, so that by small contribution OF his time
or money each citizen, by the united effort OF ALL
il saved the great cost aud trouble OF digging his
own well or hauling his own water-thls Is so
cialism as far as 1t goes. And the same also,
when they combine to give themselves gas light
when they build and endOg free school for
every ward-or university for an entire city
or when they unitediy erect pubic hOsptal-a
public library, public baths, public reading rooms
-asyums for their poor, the blind or insane-a
house of refuge for their young oieoders-or
when they elect and support from a comm IN fund
their public officers religious teachers, &c. All
this 10 SOcialiBm-the combination OF ali for the
welfare OF each" II is Socialism, too when the
people Of whole State, instead of city, through
their representatives, construct pubic works, as
canals, railroads-Stste free schools-State col
leges State charitable, scientific or other insti.
tutions-or make provision aud appropriation OF
the State funds for the support of its various
Courts, its State and County officers. Thus every
hind Of united action among many individuals,
whether directed 70 the establishment of Gov
eminent or supplying city with common iaclli-
ties for health or business, 10 Socialism, since the
combined energies of all employ the com mon re
sources and means for the common welfare. In
fact the opponents OF Socialism are pretty much
In the predcament of the man who found 20 his
surprise that he had been speaking prose all his
life without knowing 1t. for they will had that
they have uncOnkciOuSly been born and raised IN
the very midst Of the dreadful thing ITSELF and
owe to II whatever education, refinement or hap
piness they possess
But Why this great stir and fuss about Social
ism now R.days, if we have been all along uader
its influence Answer Because those who re-
cognize the great principle OF Socialism, viz !;
combiu alton of all Tor the welfare OF each, aud
who see what great results it has effected, and
10 yet capable of ehectiDg are not content with
its piecemeal, tragmeatary, here a little aud there
alittle, application but wish TO push It as far as
IL will go to apply 1t to every thing to which it
can Ice applied, TO CN the lRbOrs wants, interests
of men, that can 10 embraced by it.
To Illustrate our meaning: Suppose the PEG
pie OF Plttsburg or Allegheny, or any OF our cities
to become deeply impressed with the truth OF
Socialism. and convinced that by Intelligent com
binstion and direction OF their united powers 20
al possible objects OF common interest, they
would efectually, or in great measure, secure
themselves from disease, vice, ignorance and
poverty. and were therefore met TO deliberate
upon their course Of action, this would shape il
self somewhat as follows
l. ltwould be voted ma nimopsly that the City
Water Works. the City Gas Works. the City
Free Schools. &c. We're not handredth part Of
what they still required; and first and foremost
they would consider the matter Of their common