New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-01

iii
s,,os.od 70 nresent his paper to THE TRIBUNE
for publication, that the larses' ,"'D,,,'''N
may be given to it." very uu! 'o"l''
WM. b. MERRITT, Secretary.
Ner- York, May 90 1873.
THE PAPER.
,r,orc all ouestions which at present occupy the
..an+;on If bnman society," the Social question Is
JoubtedIy the most urgent ana important. IL
bas found its way not only into the very last beer
saloon but even mp to the thrones OF the powers
that be- The reason for this is found III the TACT,
which cannot be ignored, that since the or'gm OF
the present regulation of society no question OIL sUch
stuncndous and worldwide importance has ever
been made the order of the day. For this move
mept does not. perchancc, contemplate partial al
teration or far-reachng OF what eXlsS'
but rather the introduction of an entirely new order
md formation of the economic political and reii-
gious relations of the present. Socialism aims nj
complete reconstruction of society on the ruins OF
the old For this reason We may well pay some al
tentiOn TO this intended radical revolution. But III
doing so it Is of the utmost Importance that we
should have a clear understanding of the spcclhc
aim and design of this tremendous movement before
we attempt 10 cIicise its import and bearing upon
existing relations. With your permission, VIII,
therefore, try to sketch IN a few marked outlines
the intent and purpose of the present Socialism,
And here you will allow me to call your attention.
first to the assertions, and second TO the demands
which. on the basis of these assertions Socialists
put to society.
Socialism presents itself tous in those organiza-
tions which are known by the name of " Social
Democrats y" S0cialistic-Labor Party" as far as
they have become international, by the name of the
International Labor Association" In Tie follow
ing pages reference is had exclusively to tins form
of Socialism. Now in examining then official pro-
grammes the explanations given by their most
prominent orginatorS and leaders, and the repeated
statements of their daily papers and transient pub
LEGATIONS we find that the followers of this scheme
strive at the adjustment of all evils. economic and
polite, by overthrOwing and removing altogether
the present regulations of the community. The
Socialists, therefore, pretend TO notice at present
mass of misfortunes and evils which check and
destroy the welfare of the people; and they assert
that all these destructive and runous conditions
are but the inevitable consequences of the present
method of industry and political arrangements.
But we have TO enter more into details.
THE SYSTEM OF PRODUCTION
In the dominion of labor, trade and commerce,
free competition sways its sceptre that Is, each IN
dividua enjoys the right and privilege to produce,
buy and sell as much as he peaSes. His liberty III
this respect is only checked by the same liberty of
those around him. But now the Socialist
asserts that in the course of time tins
very system of free competition has en-
abled one and another 10 leave the race
course with greater advantages than the rest
wise and prudent combination of circumstances,
which on the field of production must be taken into
consideration, and in addition to this what in COM
mon life is called luck, left the one at the end Of
the wear in the possession Of greater profit than
f.1,o Iin fore
at the beginning of another year could enter the
commercial arena with still greater advantages as
be had a greater capital at his command. In this
way one part of society has continually risen in the
scale of financial and productive ability and SKILL
while the greatest portion has sunk down into pow
eTty, misery and need
The first effect of this unequal development is the
gradual diminution and final supplautlng OF that
middle class, which IN former days occupied the
position Of manufacturer well as of laborer ana
consumer, but which now Is compelled 10 join the
ranks of Gaiy laborers again, thereby increasing
still more the number of wOrkinShands offered,
and enabling the capitalist to reduce wages 10 the
lowest standard Besides this, the invention and III
PRODUCTION of numerous machines, by which manual
labor is made superAuous essentially increase the
advantage of capital.
A second consequence of this one-sidcd system Of
fact that labor not paid according to its intrinsic
value, but only in proportion to its beng offered
and demanded. Socialists call this the cruel iron
law of wages. For instance, workman IS en-
Moved ten hours day. During that time he ac-
conplishes a work which secures TO the employer
after the deduction Of running expenses net gam
of So OF this sum the laborer receives Only -,
and the rest flows into the pocket Of the capitalist
In this case the workman receives III tact, so the
Socialist will tell US only three-iifths Of the value OF
labor furnished while the other two-fftls are
claimed by his employer without having given any
equivalent. BY way of this Arrangement human
labor has become an article Of merchandise, whose
value will always be estimated in proportion
TO the amount offered or demanded And
not even that For Lasalle will tell us
"Tbe average wages always remain reduced
tn the necessary livelihood, as according
10 custom il be requisite for the prOlonglhg OF
existence and for propagation. This is the ponf
around which the actual hire will always gravltate,
without ever rising for a longer time above tins
point. or falling below it," (Arbelter Progranme)
In short the present system of industry IS IN every
way calculated TO fleece the working class, and TO
deprive il of its very marrow. The consequences
Of this depressed condition are lasting poverty.
misery and host of other social and political evils,
out of which grow a continuous cOmmotion of the
community, an uprising of the mass Of disinherited
paupcrs against the few millionaires, strikes lock-
outs-in short social OF the masses against the
power and influence Of capital in tho hands of
few These are about the rough outlines of the pic
ture as the Socialist has sketched it, Of the present
conditions of things. Time, however. does not per-
nit me TO adduce the necessary proof from Social
istic publications.
ASSERTED PRINCIPLES OF SOCIALISM.
Now in opposition to this presumed unhappy