The Labor enquirer., 1886-06-26
A NOTED OPINION.
The First Monthly of the
Land" Discusses
Socialism.
The Difference Between Social
ism, Communism and
Anarchy.
The True Patriot Will Listen to Rea
son, and DiscOuntenlRce Murder
From Any Source.

to group together multiplicity of ideas
which have, nevertheless, this in com
mon, that they contemplate the intro
duction of radical and thorough-goine
social reforms. Even more than this may
be said. Socialism seeks such a recon
struction of society that the entire pro
ducts of labor shall accrue to the laborer
1t would extend the application of st
PauPs injunction-"If q man will no'
work neither shall he eat"-to all mer
impartiallY. Socialism aims, then, moi
to abolish capital-a folly no sane man
ever contemplated it desires to dc
away forever with a distinct class Of
capitalists.
Slavery was formerly defended be.
cause it established the union of capital
and labor in the same hands, and south
erners used to argue that only through
such a union could domestic peace be
permanently preserved. Little heed
was then given to these philosophlc ad-
vocates of slavery, but the Socialist now
comes forward and maintains the essen
tlal accuracy of their position arguing,
however, that labor and capital must be
united in the hands of the Workingman,
and not in the hands of a master. All
the instruments of production must be-
come the common property of the toll
ers, and to them must be transferred the
product of labor without deduction of
interest, rent and profits This much
may perhaps be said of all who are prop
erly called Socialists, whether they hold
to Anarchy, Communism, Voluntary Co.
operation or State Socialism. Socialism
thus includes men of peace and Revolu,
lists, advocates of dynamite and preach
ers of the gospel of Christ, "the first So
cialist" as be is often called.
The term is also applet to some to
whom it does not belong in any unqual
fled sense. Professional Socialists and
Christian Socialists, as rule, are not
believers in any form of pure Socialism,
though there may be exceptions among
them. Usually they are men who sim
ply recognize the social side of mans
nature, and believe that men can per-
form certain economic functions in some
kind of cooperation more advantage,
ouslv than in any other manner who
indeed, 60 still further and hold that
many economic functions can be per.
| formed in no other manner. They
would, however, often maintain that the
performance of these functions are not
advocated as an introduction to pure So
ciGlism, but in order to further indus
trial initiative and activity in their own
proper sphere. 1t may in general be
said of these men that they lay stress on
the doctrine of human BROTH erhood, and
repudiate the idea that any human be-
ing or anv class is exempt from socia
duties.
The earliest form of Socialism to fine
introduction in America was what might
be called village Communism that is
common produc uction on the part CT 6
small group of people and equal distri
button of products. Two insignifCan'
trials were made by the Virginians anC
the Massachusetts, pilgrims. in James
town ami in New England towns respec
lively. These experiments occurred
early in the seventeenth century. A
more serious attempt to establish tht
Communistic life was made by tht
Shakers in the latter part of the follow
ing century.
A small band followed Mother" AM
Lee from England to this country il
1774, and settled in Watervliet, near Al
bany, In the year of the American DeCIa
ration of Independence A few year
later they introduced Communism a
the only form of life beftting those il
their religious and spiritual condition
Gas, in the institution of the primi,iv
Christian church, all share one interes
in spiritual and temporal blessings, az
cording to individual needs; no rich, n
Door. The strong beor the infrmities c
the weak, and all are sustained, promo
ing each other in Christian fellowship
as one family of brethren and sisters /
Christ" The Shakers have been EN-
nently successful, economically. The
started with nothing. and now hav
property valued at several millions
perhaps twelve is moderate estimat
and it is said that there has never bee
failure among them. Their number
seem never to have exceeded 5000, an
at present they would fall below tbs
,, figure. The basis of their communist
is celibacY and religion.
The Shakers do not claim that the
life is adapted to all, but regard it {
tsuited to those choice spirits who wis
to lead higher life in retirement frol
the distractions of the world. The
e consider it an advance upon the col
: vents of the Roman Catholics. inasmuC
: as they do not separate the sexes, bl
f live together as brothers and sisters
/ purity. One of them states their tW
< chief objects somewhat as follows: "W
furnish place to which people can n