Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-21
MONDAY.
SOCIALISM IN AMERICA.
Societies Established I'm America for
the Promotion of Their Peculiar
Doctrines-Its Disciples Prose.
iyted from Among All
Glasses.


Ask well-fed, well-appareled, fairly.
cultivated American TO define socialism
and the chances are that he will reply,
"Oh, there's no such thing in the world
it's all bosh." Ask the same question oil
a hungry-cyed, savagc-looking tramp,
and his answer will doubtless be: $50
cialism means that by hook or by crook,
by fair means or foul. the poorest man
will some day have as big a share OF Gods
earth rs the richest man on it," Finally,
turn to divine, doctor or any sympa-
thetic man whose duties or inclinations
bring him in contact with the poor, and
ask him the same question and it is not
unlikely that his answer will be: "My
friend, socialism il the death blow to
human covetousness and cruelty, and
the only safe guide to an earthly para
disc"
Considerably puzzled at having such
contradictory replies to simple question,
a New York Herald reporter went in
quest of men who have studied socialism
i'll all its ramfications, who know its good
points and its bad points, who abhor in it
all that is evil and cleave to that which
they believe to be good, and who are do.
ing much in quiet way to spread their
cherished doctrines throughout the length
and breadth Of this continent. And
from these men the reporter succeeded
in getting no fewer than three definitions
of socialism and q strange account OF the
manner in which the apostles Of this new
creed propose to regenerate the hearts OF
Americans. Leaning back in his arm
chair, the oldest and gravest of these men
said.
THREE KINDS OF SOCIALISM.
"My dear sir, there are three kinds OF
socialism. The first and worst kind is
synonymous with communism. Its adj
vocates hold that the common wealth
should be distributed and divided among
all, share and share alike; that all re-
straints in regard to school, marriage and
the state should be abolished, such being
the logical consequences Of the laissez-
faire principle, and that to gain these
ends all means are permissible.
1.-The advocates of the second kind Of
socialism-disciples OF Karl MARI, Las
sale, Bodbertus and Engels-have ex-
changed the French notions OF the Com
munists for the belief that the State
should appropriate all the means OF pro-
duction. In this way they hope to do
away with wage labor altogether and
make every individual an official with
salary and pension in case OF disability
They point to State railroads and State
monopoles as models for every industry.
Just as the postoffice is controlled by the
nation, 80 they maintain that all other in
dustries should be controlled. By doing
away with the incentive to accumulate
wealth they hope to gain the greatest pos
sible amount Of human liberty for the
poor and at the same time to destroy in
the human heart desire for riches, such
being considered by them the most Grim
inal OF all desires. This kind of social
ism, therefore, is not only an equitable
industrial arrangement, but means for
olevating the human race.
"The advocates OF this system confess
indeed that it cannot be easily carried
out. True, the very idea that the human
race can be bettered by the abolition OF
the institution OF private property in the
means OF production, and the removal OF
the necessity for seeking livelihood, has
stirred up feelings OF fanaticism in many
better informed workingmen, who, des-
pairing OF Christianity as presented by
the churches, hope by means OF this very
idea to realize true Christianity in its
pristine form. But it is in this very fact
the danger lies. The battle cry is not,
rs is usually stated, for an increase OF
wages, but for the formation OF new
society, every member OF which must be
spiritually born again. Now, sober
minded citizens will not believe in
changing tho entire nature OF men, but
will forever hold that half the nation
should be appointed officials for tho pur-
pose OF seeing that the other half works
hard for its salary, and that laws OF Dra-
CONAN severit will always be necessary
10 overcome the slovcnliness OF mankind.
WHAT STATE SOCIALISM MEANS.
although this objection is self-evidcnt,
il is wonderful how few can see it, Doc
tors, divines, and all who SEQ the sorrows
and degradation OF the poor, and hear
the arguments Of the laissez-faire school
in regard to the survival OF the fittest
feel their hearts bleed at the woeful sights
and sounds. and, naturally enough, their
sympathy overpowers their reason. While
they favor tho socialistic doctrine Of the
distribution OF tho worlds commodities,
they altogether lose sight OF the problem
how to produce that which is to be dis.
tributed. In this respect, the laissez-iaire
antagonists, who altogether forget the
problem how 10 distribute what IL pro.
duced.
"In the hope OF getting around this
difficulty tho idea OF State socialism has
been suggested
Now, State socialism proposes TO hold
iuviolate the idea of liberty and equality
in business and State, and, by proper
legislation in all the branches OF human
life, to abolish the privileges which are
nov. connected with the possession OF
wealth For example, in this country
the incorporation laws would have TO be
changed; the factory laws Tor tho protec.
ton oil the young would have to be made
more thorough; the means OF commune
cation would have TO be owned by the
State, 30 that the comfort OF the people
might be increased at the expense OF the
whole people, and all other monopolirs
would have to be abolished. Again, one
of the most important doctrines OF State
socialism is the official recognition OF in
dustrial unions. Only in this way, il IL
maintained, can the real people ever be
iitly represented in the national councils.
Socialism forgets human nature. State
socialism takes the individual ms no il and
endeavors to frame the institutions o.
society accordingly. The present indi
tries 10 make human nature act in ac
cordance with them.
Communism aspircs TO a genera
license. Socialism demands IN increas,
oil individual liberty. State socialism
seeks to decrease the liberty OF the stron,
and INSCRIPTIONS by suitable legislation
la -. HI.