The Labor enquirer., 1885-04-25
GREELEY,s SOCIALISM.

.. ..
which is printed in this issue, will cause
considerable comment among those who
were not close observers of "the great
editor'sn career, or who have not read
his history but when one remembers
how this grand, good man studied the.
condition of the common people" and
how his big heart bled for the suferings
of the poor, they will not wonder that
his brilliant mind readily took in a
theory of government which can release
them from their suferings. 1t is true
that MI. Greeley Socialism was very i'm
perfect, because the teachings of his times
tended more to voluntary association in
communities than to universal cooper
alton, under governmental direction, but
had he lived until to-day there can be
no doubt as to where he would stand, in
the light of the past few years.
Even when he wrote the article to
which reference is made, he saw with a
wonderful viyidness the injustice of our
system, but it then seemed to him that
the system could be overcome by the
competition of voluntary cooperation,
favored by government assistance. That
such a plan would surely fall short he
could not fail to see did he live at this
time. ----.-
Mr.. Greeley was strong advocate of
the natural right of any man to the use
of any portion of the earth's surface not
actually in use by another, and dis
claimed the right Of any one to "own"
more soil than he cultivated for his own
use In his celebrated discussion with
Henry ]. RAYMOND, of the New York
Times, on the subject of Socialism" he
denounced in powerful language the
land system of the eoantry.
He held that every man had the right
to labor so long as he was in need of the
products of labor. In this connection
he said. in the discussion with Mr.. Ray
mond Labor must be fully gnaran-
teed to all, SO that each may know that
he can never starve nor be forced to beg
while willing and able to work. Our
public provision for pauperism is but
,halting and wretched substitute for this.
Society exercises no paternal guardian
ship over the poor man until he has sur
rendered TO despair. The right
to labor-that is, to constant employ
ment with just and full recompense-
cannot be guaranteed to all without
radical change in our social economy.
We must devise remedy. The ulti-
mate and thorough remedy, I believe, is
found in association"
So, it can be seen, that in the midst of
a busy life, the great journalist found
time-was forced by conscience quick
ened through the misery be saw around
him-to convince himself that some
thing must be done, and to partially
make up his mind as 10 Wnat tnat some
thing was; but he was wrapped in the
blasting coil of the anaconda, politics,
and his better life was submerged be-
meath the sea of degrading political
strife, whose waves were salted with Bit;
ter jealousies and enmities, Thus the
brightest flower that ever sprung to life
in this great mans career was blighted
in the bud. : ..,-..-t ,.,..-,f.....
I shall give the readers of The En-
eU1RER more of Horace Greeley's hu;.
manitarian sentiments in subsequent
issues. His driveling imitators who con-
duet the great press" of to-day tell US
nothing of these brightest gems in the
life of noted man. ,..,... ......