The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-10-16
WHRSLINg, ". VA. o0roBER 10. 1859.
4 he Socialists aud Their I Ia ast.

The Worlds Congress Of SOCIALISTS ID now
in session at Pittsburgh, and what good it
expects to accomplish is not within the
reasoning OF any true American or the
man Of whatever nationality who has a
family and q home Of his own.
The creed Of this so-called "order," &C.
cording to the proclamation Of the society,
Is founded, 80 reads the document, ION the
exploitation Of the propertyless by the
p,opertied," meaning, Of course, the capi-
talisss. 1t continues with the assertion
that the number OF workiugmen is increas-
ing, causing more bitter competition and
the lowering Of wages At the same time
the wealth Of the propertied increases, and
with it their greed, who use all means Of
competition among themselves for the rob-
berry OF the people. This system is de-
nounced as unjust, insane and murderous,
and the necessity Of destroying 1t Is en-
phatically set forth. II this were true &C.
clety is indeed in deplorable state, but
isis an old cry, the device that is painted
on the idler's banner and only moutbed by
such disturbers Of peace as Herr Most and
his ilk. The red flag Of the Socialists is
termed the signal Of liberty, equality and
fraternity. But is "the establishment OF a
free society based on community oil
wealth" Just to all2 Will it make all men
equal? Is 1t in the true sense enjoying
liberty to take the property OF a man who
hiss earned his modest possessions by thrift,
economy and sebriety and put it in the
common poolP VIII 1t better carry out the
idea OF liberty il in the division part Of the
property be given to the worthless and
p.odigal that be may enjoy this much
yaunted equality? Reasonable theories
command the attention and respect Of those
who disagree in part, but unreasoning, wild
assertions have no claim 10 either respect
or consideration.
What sort OF reconstruction would these
Socialists achieve? 1t is announced in the
following:
First Destruction OF the existing class
rule, by all means, !. c. by energetic relent.
nets, revolutionary and International action.
Observation-Disclosures Of free society
based on community Of wealth
Third-Co.opesatiVe organization oil pre-
duction.
Fourth-Free exchange Ct equivalent pro-
ducts by and between the productive orsani-
cations without commerce and profit mon
Reorganization OF education on con-
fessionless, scientific and equal basis for both
seIes.
six,h-Regulation Of all public affairs by
free CONTACTS between the autonomous
{ independently oommunes and associations,
resting on isde,a site basis.
These few tormu.s e give the destruction OF
an old world and the complete reconstruction
OF human society.
1t would indeed give the destruction OF
the old world OF peace, comfort and order
and give instead-what? A new world Of
disorder, country without law or God and
lie without hope. Is The change in any
way desirable2
There are many honest, discerning work
ipgmen land this is the class sought to be
reached by the agitators Of socialism, who
are not to be hoodwinked by arguments
arranged, not in the order Of truth, but
aimed to reach their sympathy and plant
the seeds OF discomfort. For instance, how
many intelligent men Of this class believe
what Herr Most has said, that the capital
lists Of America have done more injury to
the workingmen in the last twenty years
than all the crowned heads OF Europe have
done in the last two hundred? This is 50
obviously false that no workingman will
believe that the man who utters 1t Is his
friend.
This is not land Of oppression and cur
tailed liberties. It is a country Of homes,
of cheerful firesides where the workman
finds his Joy in his possession. lllusionary
theories cannot seriously disturb the equi-
namity Of our communities Of Industry and
contentment, and the very best thing that
Herr Most can do is to return to the coun-
try whence he sprang and sink into obli-
won unwept, unhonored and unsung.