The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-29
MODERN SOCIALISM.
Rev. DR.. Behrenels, of Brooklyn, Discusses Its
History, It's Origin and Objects.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
BROOKLYN, March 28-Rev. A. j. F. Behren-
.els. of the Central Congregational Church, to-
day delivered the second Of his series of dis
courses on Socialism and Christianity His
subject was 1.-THE History of Modern Socialism,
In the course of the sermon he said:
1t would be an objectionable omission, In re-
viewing the literature that preceded and inspired
all Socialstic experiments, to ignore the Script
ures of the Jews and the political constitution
embodied in the Mosaic legislation. 1t was
based religion. The State was q church
whose palace was the tabernacle. whose law was
the decalogue and whose princes were prophets.
The original tenure of property was tribal, and
every family was to have it's plot of ground.
The produce Of the land could be sold, or its in
come be made over for a term of years, but the
land itself was incapable Of transfer by sale.
The year of jubilee restored all lapsed titles, can
ceied all leases and debts. No interest was to be
charged on loans. Hebrew servitude could last
only six years The laborer was to be promptly
paid at the close of each day, and some things
could not be seized for debt. Kindness to
beasts was commanded. The law Of the
harvest required that something should be
left for the cleaners As consequence.
there was no pauperism, no bread eaten with
out work, and the poor preserved their
of the Pentateuch. and the jews are still noted
for the care of their poor. The ancient COM
monwealth was to be fraternal community,
members Of great and loving household, whose
justice was to be tempered with a rational and
habitual mercy. The French revolution gave
to Socialism is first great historical opportunity
The times were ripe for new social and political
experiments The earth was to become para
disc, and human life psalm. But the prophets
of the new dispensation were not agreed in their
policy Some were pacific, others were revolu-
tionary Some adopted for their motto, 'To
each according to his capacity, to each capacity
according to its works. others insisted that the
true rule was, "From each according to his ca
pacity, to each according TO his needs" Some
advocated social and industrial reorganization
on a purely voluntary basis; others insisted that
the needed reforms could be secured only by po-
litical agitation and governmental interference
The political experiments have been con-
fined mainly to the United States, naturally
garded by continental theologists as most favor
able to the birth Of new social order. The re-
sistance Of European society could not be over
come by Louis Blanc, Robert Owen and Fourier
The experiment was transferred across the sea,
and seventy-two settlements, in thirteen differ
emit States. still remain to show how
widely and earnestly the effort was made
to introduce the new regime Their history has
been sketched by Mp. Charles Nordhoff. These
communities had in 1874 5, 900 mem bers and $780,
900 acres of land. Fourierism had able advocacy
in Horace Greeley, George Ripley, Claiming and
Theodore Parker, but the whole movement col
lapsed in 1916. What is known as Christian So
clallSm, unO0r tue i6auerSnlp OF Sucn men as
Kingsley and Maurice, can hardly be regarded
as sociaistic, for it never contemplated any rev.
olution, either in domestic life or in industrial
control 1t tanned simply to secure cooperation
around the thrifty poor, and to improve their
condition. On the continent i. was much more
radical. De Lamennas and Won Ketteler
claimed that the church should become great
cooperative association of laborers for the over
throw of capitalistic tyranny. But this was to
be done by peaceful methods. not by violence
t.w~~ Ill
Socialism has been in the ascendant It de-
mands cooperative communism in industry, in
ternational republicanism in politics aud athe-
istic humanism In religion. 1t regards voluntary
communism asslunacy, sneers at Christian Social
lists, hates the church and denounces trades
unions as an arstocracy Of labor. Ferdinand
Lassalle and Karl Marx are it's ablest and most
powerful advocates. The former died in 1864,
the latter in 1883. Both were Of Jewish parent
age The first was fiery, passionate nature,
all the economic learning oil his day. whose
pithy phrases have become the watchwords Of
the school He founded, in 1863. the German So
cial Democratic party.
Karl Marx was light without heat. and his
book, "Das Kapital," is the Bible Of modern So
cialism. In it he maintains that capital is the
result of spol:ation. 1t is coaguated labor for
labor is the only source of wealth. Labor.
therefore, is entitled to all, and the robbery
should not be permitted any longer. The la
poIors tiiuo lao Couioi anu oVSrvWuers Inc
ranks should be compacted to seize the inherit
ance so long withheld. No halfway measures
are to be adopted. There must be an entire
subversion OF the present industrial order. The
demand is thus stated in tie Gotha programme
for 1875, of which Marx was the inspirer. if not
the author. Labor is the source Of all wealth.
The liberation of labor requires the conversion
of the means of labor into the common property
of society and the regulation of the aggregate
labor by the community. Il must be the work
of the laboring class, in opposition to which all
Havre programme of 1880 demands return to
the collective ownership of all the means of pro-
duction, and makes that the basis upon which it
conducts the peaceful but determined political
debate.