The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-10

some of our politicians and phllan-
thropists in their endeavor to rebut So
cialism is indeed highly amusing; al
though the amusement is mingled with
deep pity that thinking human beings
can talk and write such detestable rub
bish and sniyelling cant. One writer,
who signs his articles ID. and whose
name is Joseph Hiram Levy, the great
dialectarian of the secularist party, is
especially amusing, as his writings are Of
some importance and exert considerable
influence. may sometime give my
| friends, the readers Of The ENQUIRER,
the-perhaps questionable benefit of a
description and criticism of his writings
on Socialism. The leader of the secular
party, Mr.. Bradlaugh, NJ. P, debated
with H. NJ. Hyndman, two nights ago, in
large hall in London, the subject being
"'Will Socialism Benefit the People 7"
From the scanty details can gather, un-
| til Justice comes to hand, it seems that
| Hyndman defined Socialism as an at
tempt to substitute organized co opera
ton for anarchical struggle. Mr.. Brad
laugh, strangely enough, refused to ac-
lcept this definition, although Mr.. Hynds
man was the accredited delegate of the
Socialist organization. Having passed
over the position of his opponent Mr..
Bradlaugh proceeded to refute Dyna-
mitism and Utopian Communism. u
TIE attitude of the political parties to-
wards the Socialist movement is sure to
interest American friends. g.. :,
There are three political parties IN
the house of commons, conservatives,
liberals and radicals. Of the first Lord
Salisbury and Sir Stafford Northcote are
the nominal leaders, but there is a young
aristocrat, Lord Churchill, who bids fair
to become the hope and savior of the de-
caying prospects of the conservatives.
Lord Churchill is clever speak al
shrewd parliamentary tactician, besides
entertaining a strong regard for fame and
weak regard for truth, he has consid-
cradle power of invective, and a singular
faculty for leading his leaders. In short
he has good deal of lower animal intel
ligence, lie is utterly unscrupulous, can
lie outright and eloquently-and what
other qualities are required for a sue
cessful politician
Mr.. Gladstone is leader of the liberal
party, but he cannot last much longer
and where, oh, where shall we find his
successor? There is not a man IN the
liberal ranks who is fitted to lead that
party to victory at the next sham fight
which will soon take place between the
two misruling parties. Mr.. John Bright,
who has so long posed as the friend of
the people, is now found to be cat's-paw
ofcapitalism. He bitterly opposed the ten
ement-house bill. Women andchildren
were working fol- rteen and sixteen hours
per day in the factories of great, glorious
Britain; few really sympathetic men
introduced measure to limit their work
ing day to ten hours. Such humane ac-
ton naturally aroused the wrath of the
free-trading orator and proft-gfabbing
capitalist. But Mr.. Bright is now an ex-
tinct volcano. He spends most of his
time now in singing peans to the sup
posed progress of the, past forty years.
But where is this alleged progress? The
people are certainly much worse off than
they have eyer yet been. In spite of the
influence of all the grandmother gov
contract" which our sentimental philan-
thropists have forced upon an unwilling
ring of governing capitalists To say
that there has been no progress. during
the past four decades would be illogical
in the extreme Events have been NOV
ing, but it is nevertheless true that the
people are in a worse condition, and will
be still worse before they are better. The
baneful domination of the bOurgeoise
must become more baneful still, until it
brings about a revolution which will
either destroy our civilization, as others
have been destroyed, or result in the
overthrow of the possessing class, and
usher in new era in social develop
ment, the basis of which will be equality.
Thus, the present pernicious system of
society must reach it's height, before
better can be inaugurated even as an
ulcer must attain certain degree of de-
velopment before it is ready for the sur
geon's knife. The present system of So
ciety is an ulcer upon civilization. Let
the politicians tend to It's ripening while
We Socialists prepare to deal with it
when it is ripe. Upon these grounds 1
object to any political agitation whatever
Our whole efforts must be concentrated in
the worEof education until the position
assumes a different aspect. Although l
incur the risk of being charged with
flying in the face of proverb, I main
tain that it is easy to be practical if
your theoretical knowledge is good, and
if we devote ourselves meanwhile to
studying and spreading thorough sci
entific conception of sociology it will be
an easy matter to act when the moment
for action arrives. Revolution is our
salvation. Socialism is state of society