, 1879-07-06


We printed week ago the report (cop1ed
from the Stats s-Zatung) Of the. speech de-
ivered by DR.. SCHMIDT at the Socialist pic
mic on Sunday, June Is. Dr.. SCHMIDT has
since complained that this report did him
great Injustice, and reporter WAS sent to
him to obtain his statement as to errors, and
to obtain, also, his explanation Of what
wrongs the Socialists do really complain and
really seek to redress. We reproduce that
part Of the explanation having bearing ON
this question. After declaring that Com
munists and Socialists have no views in
common, and that there is not Communist
among the Socialists, the following was
said:
"What do you understand by Socialism,"
"I understand that under things as they now
exist, the working classes cannot be politically
free II they go to the polls, or primaries. or con-
yentions they lose their wages, and that they can-
not afford to do. In France it is different E1ec-
tons are held on Sunday. Something ought to DO
done. election day made holiday acth ar0qes, or
something so that all could have time to- vote. "
'tIs that reform al there is to Socialism"
.sNo. The object is to secure political freedom,
and to prevent the big fish from swallowing the
little ones. Under the present competitive system
that is done. and 1t is impossible to get fair wages
One lucky one in 100 may, but the great mass DO
not. And men who have machinery ought to be
responsible for the lives and limbs of emploses.
There is one machine in this city which hns taken
of fifteen arms, and 1t is running yet. AL tha1
The men got was the months wages. And for
talking about better organization we are called
murderers, robbers. and Communists"
The average American reader will proba-
bly, fail to discover in this recital of griev
ances any cause for the organization Of the
notwithstanding population as dis
tinct political party, rallying under partie-
ular flag and proposing to carry arms and
to uso them when necessary to protect their
iges, their property, and defend the rights
of mankind, particularly their countrymen
in Prussia, Bohemia, Poland, France, and
other parts Of the world.
It is perhaps to be regretted that Ameri-
can civilization has not yet reached that point
of having all the elections held on Sunday,
SO that all men can take a day when there
is no work and devote it to voting, either ct
primary meetings, conventions, or elections.
Possibly the country may in time be edu-
Gated up to that point, but even that
will not satisfy DR.. soHMDr. In those
countries where the Sunday is set apart for
holding elections the law does not prohibit
labor on Sunday. Rest from labor in those
countries on Sunday is voluntary, and, there
fore, when We get round to that point, vot-
ers going to the polls will have to be paid
their wages just the same, whether the cleo
tions be held on Sunday or some other day.
There are possibly some 100000. Of voters
in the United States, and Of these the Social
lists may count up 250,000; but We do not
suppose this comparatively small number
intend that their grievance can be remedied
SO long as the other eight and three-qunrters
millions of people persist in having elections
on some other day than Sunday; and.
persist in voting without wages. Under our;
Election law the time needed for voting
requires but few hours each day, and there
are but few employers who will not give
their workmen time enough to vote, and
then, too, the polls are by law required to be-:
Kept open one hour after the stoppage Of
work. -.
:: The second object or aim Of Socialism, as
explained by DR.. soH,1nT, is to 'ssecure
political freedom," and to prevent the big
fish from swallowing the little ones. So far
this definition of the object of Socialism is
too general but we find an explanation of it
in the next sentence, that "under the pres
ent competitive system that [big fish swal-
lowing the little ones] is done, and it is
impossible to get fair wages" This is
claim for the paternal system Of government;
the paternal plan of government doing
all things and taking care Of everybody. It
seeks that al labor be employed by the Gov
ernmeut, and that all men have the same
wages; that the Government shall cultivate
the fields, shall excavate the mines, shall fell
the forests, shall herd the cattle, breed the
horses, and the hogs, and the sheep; shall
all the beer; the wine, and the
whisky; shall bake all the bread; shall
make oil the bricks, and build all the stores
and dwellings; shall do, the manufac-
turing, and own and operate all the
steam and sailing vessels, the rail
ways, aud telegraphs, and canal-boats
in short, the Government shall become the.
universal employer, and shall pay oil men
alike the same wages, and all shall share alike
in the distribution Of products. The schools
and the courts shall be furnished by the
Government, as we'll as the bakeries, the
the dry goods stores; and
teachers, lawyers, doctors, musicians, aud
workmen Of all occupation shall be employed
by the Government. Whether. the scheme
includes churches and clergymen We do not
know, but, if it do, then these, too, will be
provided by the State. The aim is to destroy
labor Of every kind: it is to
establish universal brotherhood, and is
founded On the theory that, Us all bees in the
hive labor alike, and share alike SO shall all
men and. women work alike if they be al
lowed to share alike the common product.
This is the dream Of the Socialist. How
unreal it is, and how incapable of execution,
is shown by the history Of the human family
in every aga and in every cline. The Mil
lennium is not yet present, nor is there the
remotest evidence of any change in the ma
ture or passions nr instincts of man land