The Labor enquirer., 1886-10-09

SOcletY UdSeQ upon mueudi 1iuns ono
help as it is to get their opposites from a
society like the present based upon an
taqonism of interests. 1t would be the
interest of each mau to work for the
benefit of his fellows, because the pros
perity of the community would be
shared alike bv all its inhabitants, not
stolen by few as 1t is at present. To
bring about this change the capitalists
must 90. We must cease to be servants
to fellow man and each of US serve 80
ciety which is made up of all. 1t is
often said that we cannot do without
masters If that1s true it means that we
are only fit to be slaves. fear there is
a good deal of truth, but 1t is therefore
all the more needfHl for US to so raise
the workers thoughts and aspirations
that they will be ashamed to tell US
they cannot do without masters.
Socialism simply means that the
working people of each country shall
form one huge cooperative group.
That the soil shall be titled, the mines
worked, the arts aud manufactures pur-
sued, by the people for themselves.
That foremen, managers, etc, shall be
freely chosen by the workers they are to
direct That idleness shall be the
greatest of all sins. for everyone who
eats should work since what he eats is the
produce of work and if not earned by
himself must be stolen from somebody
else who did earn it. Every one must
perform his duties and in return his
rights will be assured him.
This Is the true aim of that Social
Revolution which is beginning even now
to rend the world with its birth throes.
! l refuse to believe that men are unable
to attain it, even if told 80 by themselves.
1t only requires, first: enough thought
to rightly know our own interests; Sec
ond, determined and cool action in in
sisving on our rights, or in taking them
if they be withheld too long from us /;
and lastly, it will need sober and cheer
full toll to get our house in order after we
have entered into possession. Now will
anyone maintain that intelligent self
interest, courage and willingness to
work for and trust IN each other are
virtues beyond the reach of the people
of t., day? If 80, the social system they
have been bred in n'must be degrading
indeed. The people may be apathetic,
listless, aim ost hopeless, but their sense
of justice, however dullod, is not dead
and may be reused if only reasonably
and persistentlY appealed to.
Now let me contrast the present with
the feature we ask you to work for that
you may see how this Revolution will
effect the smaller details of every day
life. Suppose we begin with the chill
| dreu:
At present thousands of them live in
filth and sQualor, are bred up in vice
and immortality of the most loathsome
kind and at an early age are turned into
the streets to beg or steal or vend
papers or other wares. The foulest
talk, uncleanly habits. dishonest ways of
dealing become part of their very ma
ture. When they grow I'D they drift
| into what is called our criminal classes
they fill our prisons and brothels. Of
course they are the outcasts and despised
of society. Stunned by the ordinary
people, and BUNDLED by the law, what
wonder that they come to regard them
selves as at war with their fellows !!
But is the fault theirs? Society has
brought them up IN sin; under its very
sanction they have served an appren-
ticeship that fitted them for criminals
and untitled them for ANYTHING else.
Society only reaps what it's own hand
has sown. But this is never acknow-
lodged. We condemn the thief, or, if
We are very good-natured, mourn his
gradation-whereas we ought to think
rather of our own, for it is far more our
fault than his. The prostitute is always
loathed and seldom pitied. Their
shame" is spoken of by respectable peo-
pie with a shudder. Yet l say dis
tlnctly that if the shame be theirs the
blame is ours. If society were ruled by
the laws of mutual interest and common
sense it would be impossible for thou
sands of its young members to be thus
forced Into such lives.
Under Socialism the greatest parts of
these evils would never find place for
one of first duties of the community
would be to give free education and
chances for healthful physical training
to all children. This would be done, not
as matter of philanthropy but of self
interest, for common sense teaches us
that a nation who takes care of its chill
dren is rewarded in due time with an
intelligent and moral people. Nine
tenths of those who make up our crimi-
nal classes are lust as good in nature as
the majority of people. Their crimes
are not caused by their innate deprav-
ity, as is foolishlv asserted, but by the
neglect shown them when young, and
by the many inducements held out to
them by corrupt and dishonest sys-
tenn.
Let us now take step from childhood
to old age; often not very big step in