The Labor enquirer., 1884-06-28
A sUPERR1c1AI VIEW.

~tnlS issue, nom m' IrleUt anu co-hoiAoi, :,
D. Nick -Whytestakes ble to task, and
finds fault With doctrines of Socialism
which 1 believe in and advocate. He mis-
understands the tituation, and through
this misunderstanding, makes some
statements which, didI not know the
thorough honesty 3. of the gentlemen'
would make me think hs was trying to
take an advantage. At any rate, I feel
called,upon to set him right, and hope
} the readers of this paper will carefully
read his letter, as we'll as what follows in
this. j. '.".
Mr.. Whyte fndi, fault and would make
capital against Socialism because Social
lists use the word Revolution" so much ;
but he does not seem to fully understand
what we mean by It. He appears unable
to realize that we mean anything but
blood and destruction. In this he, like
many others, is greatly in. error; The
Revolution meant and II tended by the
Socialists is 70 be'si COMPLETE CHANGE OF
SYSTEMS. call attention to the fact that
Socialists, in speaking If the coming
Revolution" say "peacsably, if posi-
ble," which is proof that they are not
advocates of bloodshed
Another point t. which I desire to call
attention is, that Socialists claim, and
prove by the "logic of events" that this
Revolution" is inevitable, that's it will
come whether we Anticipate it or not
and that our agitation will not create it,
nor opposition prevent it. We can but
prepare for it, and tie earlier and
better our prepare ions, she more proba,
Bile a peaceable settlement.
In the futureI kope NO reader of<THE
ENQUIRER will confound War and Revo-
luton in discussin Socialism, for they
are not synonymous terms, either in the
Socialistic vocabulary or in our die
tionary authorities.
Now for the relations between the
greenbaek theory and the Socfsfistic
Our friend says We, seem to ignore the
tremendous power the financial policy Of
a nation has upon the condition of the
working masses" He is certainly mis-
taken there I'VE dp not il gnore the power
to oppress the workers the idlers have
had through the control of our
money. We admi: that, but 60 away be-
yond it. Money being the representa-
tive of values, and labor being the crea-
. tor of values, we say the representative
has been controlled by the idlers because
they have controlled the creator; and so
long as they maintain that control
Through the competitive SYSTEM so long
will it make little difference to the work
ing masses what kind of material is used
for money or what the rate of interest
may be. Nothing short of governmental
co-operation-a Socialistic common
wealth-will ever liberate the producers
of the world.
The greenback theory of finance is
certainly a reform measure but remem-
ber the Socialist is not mere reforrler
but "Reyolutionist," and he maintains
that the producer is feeced by the idler
and speculator through rent and profit,
as we'll as through interest, and that the
robbers never leave him more than
enough for subsistence; so that if the
rate of interest was reduced to per
cent, profit and rent would simply re-
ceive larger share. So it is as foolish
to claim that Henry Georges land doc
trine is adequate to the case as that the
greenback theory encompasses it: Profit
is the king evil of the Individualist sys-
tenn, and justice will never be obtained
so long as one man is allowed to live of
the labor of another, no matter what
may be the material used for construct
ing mediam of exchange.
The greenback idea of a medium Of
exchange is Socialistic, inasmuch as ii
opposes individual control, but only a
superficial thinker can believe that in
the green back doctrine lies panacea fol
the ills which curse the Au9an race. II
has been said that sreenbacker was
half Socialist. If he is, he is the last
half; for without first establishing the
other half, no permanent remedies can
be effected, and, as has been stated Aboye
the greenback theory is not absolutely
necessary to the enfranchisement of the
race and Socialism is all-suficient, be,
cause it provides for the protection oi
7 all, and requires equitable service from
all. -.
Mr.. Whyte claims to be with the
Socialists s-"short of Revolution
further asserts that he is in advance O.
them. If greenbackIsm is ahead o.
Socialism then have had all my read
ing for nothing; and if friend Whyte i.
Socialist, then what are the thousand,
Of men who 60 beyond his doctrines anG
say that if the government has nothins
THAT everything belongs to individual
what does its order to pay zone dol
}" lars worth" amount to? Under the
present system the government sanction.
private ownership of its rightful prop
erty, and the Socialists propose to abro
gate the private ownership and vest the
title in the Socialistic commonwealth.
FIs Our friend. instead of finding the