The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-13

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Truth, resting assured that Truth whel
ascertained, and put in action, will b
found to be synomous with human hap
piness. | also hold with him that if
could be proved that the Truth was in
furious to human happiness, we ought t
welcome falsehood. AS, however, tn,
discovery of Truth appears to be ident
| ical with the discovery of the design o
nature, the hypothesis contained in th,
last sentence appears untenable. 4
sum up this paragraph, human develop
ment is the end which we, in accordance
/ with natures law, of which nature VIC
ourselves are but a part, are forced te
tend towards, as shown us by the array
of facts which support the doctrine ol
evolution; Liberty. Equality, Fraternity
Truth and the like are but the vehicles
in which we NAV ride more swiftly to.
wards that end.
The ENQUIRER contains each week a
list of books which it advises Socialists
to study. Prominent among these are
the works of Darwin, Herbert Spencer
an other eyolutlonists, and, as myself
reached Socialism through the gate Of
evolution, Ihave naturally always looked
upon this list as one of the most satisfac-
tory features of the paper. When be-
came afree- thinker soon found myself
filled with very hearty contempt for
many of the goody-goody maxims be-
queathed us by our ancestors; and when
I understood that "the object of life" las
Wagner puts it) was ''joy In living" an
expression when comprehended in its
widest sense synonymous with the de-
velopment of the human race, 1 saw at
once that it took a thinking to be moral
man. Whatever hinders development
is crime. whatever helps is virtue. with
the best Intentions" cuts no figure in the
case the moves in the chess tournament
which humanity plays with the great
Unknowable are rewarded or punished
only, and only as they are true or false,
and how can a man move truly without
some knowledge of the game? am
anxious to steer clear of tedious meta
physics, but am still more anxious to
point out that Socialism is part and parcel
of the great doctrine of evolution; that
the researches of evolutionists have ap-
parently established certain facts as
definitely proven, and that these facts
apply to Socialists as we'll as to other
men. We Socialists have as a rule
shaken off the trammels of the ancient
myths. Let US be all the more careful
that we do not fall into the error of an
ignorant, because thoughtless and indo-
lent, past and ourselves turn idolaters
of certain pet watchwords, which by
their very vaguenes lend themselves so
easily to loose and therefore erroneous
thought. *
The pedigree of Socialism scien.
tific Socialism of to- o-day-shows that it
developed as a branch of the great tree of
Evolution. The economical inyestiga-
tions of Adam Smith. and the thousands
who have succeeded him, are contempo-
raneous with, and support inquiries and
conclusions of, the scientists who ran
sacked every department of life and dis,
covered the laws of growth. In our vo.
cabulary we name it Solidarity"
Fraternity" Mutual Interdependence."
AS the botanist discovers that by judi
clous grating Tor joining life to life) he
produces higher type; 30 we find that
by solidarity Tor joining life to life) we
may produce higher type. The In
crease of life is IN both cases the end ;
the solidatlty-grafting is but the means.
Such writers as Herbert Spencer have
been moreover most assiduously trying
to convince the thoughtless and enthu-
siastic that this is task that calls for
the exercise of judgment, and that it is
with men as with chemicals, if you
bring together inharnonious elements,
and explosion follows. I notice however
that those, who NAV be termed the ia
natics of fraternity. snap the finger OF
contempt at Mr. Spencer, with his race
preiudices and other pedantic argu-
ments. When l find an American or
European willingly marrying his laugh
ter to Chinaman, will condescend to
argue with him over consistency )" as it
is, am of opinion that these gentlemen
are opposed to such a union in their own
family, because when treating of their
private affairs they are in their depth
and can keep level head.
am far from denying that weighty
arguments can be brought forward to
show that the Chinese question is one
which Socialists should let severely
alone, but the really weighty arguments
are precisely the ones which are not
sentimental can, for instance, per
fectlv understand the position of those
who welcome the advent of the Chinese
as increasing the prevailing misery, and
thereby quickening Revolution. To
take such position Is to honestly at
tempt to deal with life as it is, and not
as we would have it. / do not agree
with that position. because 1t assumes
that misery leads to revolt, premise
which consider false. -
This article has already exceeded
proper limits, and I must defer the fur
ther development of my views, to a