The Labor enquirer., 1884-10-25
THE SNAIL oRAwLs.

To the patient worker in the cause OF
humanity, to the earnest advocate OF a
just system of society, who struggles
against the ignorance of mankind and
the set ideas of ages, there comes oc-
casionally a ray of hope. There are
times when such an one dares believe
that the rights of man will be established
on earth by the unanimous consent OF
man, and not through the bloodshed and
carnage which has marked every stride
of advancement in the history of the
world; he never doubts the ultimate
triumph of the just principle, by one
means or another.
These thoughts are inspired by an edi-
torial in the Tribune-Republican of last
Sunday morning. 1t was on the subject
of Socialism, and the easiest way to
give my readers clear idea of the drift
of the articlels to give some of the prin-
ciple sentences as they appeared. Says
the paper which spoke of Socialists a
few months ago as "red-handed Williams
and blatant idiots"
| !"The Socialists are not disappearing
from the face of the earth. On the con-
trary, there are indications that their
numbers are constantly increasing. Even
in this country they claim and can show
decided growth. The Socialist is not
wild beast. He is not even bad man,
at heart. AS a rule he Is warm lover
of humanity and sincerely desires to
ameliorate the condition of his race.
His argument is worthy of consideration
and must be necessarily and logically
refuted. To dismiss it with contempt is
dangerous"
When journal, owned and controlled
by the corrupt capitalistic class, is forced
by the progress of new ideas and the
tenor of public sentiment, to back down
absolutely on its statements of SIX months
ago, there is ground for hope. Let the
uOIlNe VI Luc CudASO UO "AoG ~ may,
the argument in favor of the increasing
power of Socialism cannot be ignored.
There is no necessity for tarrying over
the paragraph quoted-there is no room
for argument-so l pass on to that por-
ton of the article which displays need
of enlightenment or lack of moral cour-
age on the part Of the writer;
The fundamental trouble with the
Socialist is that he is visionary and i'm
practicable. He takes men as they ought
to be and proposes to have them rule
themselves wisely an well, so as to put
an end to injustice. His beautiful theory
ignores the vast amount of selfshness,
envy, pride and vengeance which to
very large extent govern their actions
Once Undue the best
brains and blood among US with the idea
that all men should be kept as much as
possible upon level of equality in all
things and many of the most powerful
motives to eIertion will begone. When
there is no ambition there can be no
progress"
To correct mistake, Intentional or
otherwise, made by all persons who at
tempt to argue against Socialism, 1 desire
to say that it is not sentiment" but a
science. The Socialist is, not visionary,
and he takes men as they are he is
man himself, and differs only from the
rest of mankind IN the use he makes of
his intellect. He is subject to the same
laws of nature and cares as much for his
own comfort and happiness as. any of his
brothers, and more. But he says that
under the present social system none are
permanently land very, very few tempo
rarily) happy and comfortable. The poor
and hardworked cannot be happy, and
the rich and powerful may not only the
grossly ignorant know contentment No
informed man will deny this. ...5.
The Socialist has studied social science
else he is not thorough Socialist
and he has learned of plan upon
which society can be contented and no
snap condemnation without eonsidera-
tion) of that plan will ever change his
mind, no matter from whence comes the
verdict. His plan is not to make men
good > but to make them just in their