The examiner., 1881-12-03
Socialism-What Is It?

any scheme set forth in the interest of a more just and equitable government, it is the fashion of those journals to denounce as Socialism" " Communism, " etc., any measure containing in it's provisions the least moiety ofTreform.
 Ref1ecting minds readily perceive the fact that these terms are employed for the sole purpose of prejudicing timid people against an investigation of ideas advanced by broad and liberal thinkers, in the inte- rest of higher and better civilization, where aH, ALL of Gods creatures, whether man or woman, black or white, red or yellow, shall have equal opportunities in the race of life and in the pursuit of hap piness.
 Socialism is one of those advanced ideas of government which for years back has been the target for the slimy, hypocriti- cal charges of the enemy's batteries. Therefore we ask the question
 What is socialism?
 Let us suppose that we should desire to ascertain the exact creed of any particular denomination, sect orparty, where should we go to secure it Is it to themselves or to their enemies? Are we to depend on partisan republican for a true status of partisan democrat, and Vice versd If so, then we find that both in turn are knaves, plunderers, perjurers and hypocrites. And can we rely on the above characters for true definition of socialism Certainly not therefore our only resort is to turn to the creed of socialism as proclaimed by one of that fraternity.
 Ina little work before us, issued by the Socialistic Tract Society of Detroit, Mich, we find the following:
 Unfortunately, even educated Ameri- cans fancy or believe that Socialists pro- pose to plunder those who possess the good things of this world, and divide the spells among those who have nothing ; that they intend to abolish all property so that no one will have anything to call his own; that they advocate the formation of such a policy that the lazy and indus trious; the virtuous and vicious, will have the same enjoyments that they want to subvert the family relation and discard marriage.
 It is no wonder that Socialism is so ab- horrent to people who have such notions of it. And yet all who read the newspa- pers must have learned that there are 750,- 900 men in Germany who vote the Social istic ticket at the risk of sacrificing their means of living, of losing their liberty, and of being banished from their homes.
 
 No; the fact is, Sociali sm will not do away with marriage, but put stop to it's being any longer @ matter of business-of money it will not destroy the family, but enable every healthy man to form @ family, with sure prospect that he can support his wife and have his children properly educated, it will not attempt to establish any unnatural equality, but 1t will remove all artificial inequalities it will not abolish property but give every person power to acquire property it will not rob any body, but see to it in the future that one person cannot fleece another.
 What then is Socialism? Its object is to secure to every person,
 I. An opportunity to procure work, and such work, be it handwork or headwork, as he or she is fitted to do; and
 II. To receive all the proceeds of such, partlEn in personal remuneration and partly in pubic benefits.
 Socialism is not system invented and patented by anybody. It has simply dis covered the laws that govern the develop ment of mankind. As it's object is based on justice, so the way to attain it is based on scientific truth.
 At the outset, on seeing such unfavor- able allusions to anything that smacked of Socialism in the monopoly press, and not understanding it's meaning, we too were much prejudiced against the name, thinking it was some ism inspired by old Satan himself, until one day while looking over the pages of Noah Webster our eye chanced to fall on the word and To and behold with what astonishment did we go I over the definition. 'Socialism-A the- ory of society that advocates more pre- else, orderly and harmonious arrangement of the social relations of mankind, than that which has hitherto prevailed" Since then we have learned to withhold condem- nation of anything until we know what that thing really is. But we opine the circumventing class will see to it, that this definition is materially altered in the next edition of the work, as did the money lords in the case of the definition of a "dollar," changing it from a silVer to @ gold coin.
 Readers, beware of bestowing too much credence on the partisan newspapers. Think for yourselves. giving all sides a hearing, and then surely you will be better qualified to render verdict more in &C., cordance with right and truth, and for the best interests of your country, yourselves and your children.
 A burglar entered the residence of Rev. Dr. Gage on Asylum avenue, Sunday eve ming, and packed up some of Mrs. Gages silk dresses and collected a quantity of the Doctors own clothing. A little after 8 o'clock pr. Gage entered his house and surprised the burglar, who attempted to rush past him and escape. Dr.G. clasped him from behind, held his right arm so that he could not use the pistol he had drawn, and the two struggled out into the