The Labor enquirer., 1884-02-23
WHAT Is SOCIALISM.

The above question is being asked by
a great many earnest seekers after truth,
and as the perpetrators of ignorance
always stand ready to mislead the peo-
Pile on subjects looking to their improve
ment, the capitalistic press, tool of the
money-kings and oppressors, is not
losing an opportunity to lie to and de-
ceive the masses on this great subject.
There are great many persons of high
intelligence on most all subjects, who
are grossly ignorant on this; WHICH is
probably due to the fact that Socialism
naturally seeks the most of its recruits
amongst the poor and lowly. Let that
60 for the present.
only want to explain, in as short and
ineligible manner as can, what it is
the Socialist believes and strives for,
and I ask your thoughtful attention.
Webster defines Socialism, "a theory
of society which advocates more pre-
else, orderly and harmonious arrange
ment of the social relations of mankind
than that which has hitherto prevailed" I"
Is there anything horrible in that?
Now, of course, the skeptic will say it
makes no difference what the dictionary
says; he is looking at what the Socialist
of the present time is teaching. All
right; what does he teach? Will you
take the word of one who is Socialist,
and is trying to teach in this very ex-
plantation, or will you allow. yourselves
longer to be deceived by the hirelings of
kings, tyrants and other depoilers of the
people? I can but trust to your common
sense and fairness.
The Socialist says that every person
who labors is entitled to the full product
of his labor that system which COM
pels thousand men to toll increasingly
that one may live in idleness, luxury
and profigacy, that makes slaves from
the cradle of your children, while those
of another are reared in Incidence and
plenty, is iniquitous and should be abol-
ished. l could spread out in this with
out limit, but it is unnecessary you can
do that yourself-you have done it time
and again. I tell you that the founda-
tion of the Socialism of to-day lies in
the principle and declaration that, HE
WHO PRODUCES IS ENTITLED TO HIS PRO-
DUCTS. Now, how many of you are
Socialists? You who believe in that
infallible truth are Socialists in your
theory.
If Socialism be crime, then l charge
the recent address of DR.. De La Matyr
as criminal, and every man who ap-
plauded its sentiment are criminals.
Every wageworker in the world who be-
lieves he should have just wages for his
work is a Socialist Now where do you
stand? You can scrutinize everything
ever said or written on the subject by
Socialists and you will discover nothing
that conflicts with the principle stated
above. When you hear a man repeat
that old slush that, "the Socialist only
wants to divide up the wealth." you can
safely put him down as ignorant Or un-
truthful.
l have not the time to tell you now
how the Socialist would deal with all
the details of government, in fact I do
not know if l could to your perfect salts
faction; but, with his feet firmly planted
on the rocks Equality and Justice, there
would be no danger Of his falling over
insignificant pebbles There are slight
differences of opinion in the ranks as
to minor details, but the basic principle
is adhered to, and the army pauses not
to squabble over trifles.
Now if you answer the foregoing de-
scription, come in with us and help us
to shape our bill of particulars and soon
there will be inaugurated an age of
Humanity and Reason the grandeur of
which the pages of history knows moth
ing now.