Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-09-29
TRUTH AND TRIPLES.

ton Of all the greatest scientific
truths have been retarded by sheer
trivial objections.
During the progress of events,
principles destined to revolutionize
the prevailing dogmatic beliefs, have
been fought against and seemingly
successfully for time by the bigoted
pedantry of the times.
Galileo's principles of the struct-
ure of the universe was fanatically
opposed, because the Bible does not
mention anything about it, and it
disturbed the peace of mind of the
professionally wise men of that
time.
The same treatment is accorded
to-day to the modern science of po-
ltical economy, destined to super
sede the utterly chaotic system prev
alent.
The principl lies offered by the most
advanced social reformers to the
masses for their benefit, embrace
highly improved social and indus
trial system that will greatly en-
nance the productive power of labor
by substituting association for COM
petition, where machinery and the
resources of nature will be enjoyed
by all, and all will receive the full
value for their labor; in short, po-
litical and industrial emancipation,
that will place humanity upon
solid foundation. From that time will
date new era Of real progress the
era of the much dreaded social
ism.
Now, the objections thereto are
trifling and Insignificant; but yet
the people, with singular perverslon,
''strain at a gnat" and readily "swal-
low a camel"
First we have the political econo
mist, whose mission in life is to
teach the workmen only how to
economize, leaving the capitalist out
of the question, like Atkinson, al
ways carrying around mass of fig
ures with assorted and contorted
statistics to prove that the laborer
to-day is better off than the laborer
of the last generation. He never
reckons for moment that his pro-
ductive power is increased and his
relative share really much less.
Well, never mind such facts: sup
pose their condition is better be-
cause they were robbed Of fifty per
cent. then and only forty per cent.
now, is that any reason why they
should be robbed at all ?
Then there is the cry Of ''imprac-
ticable." The self-same stereotyped
cry has risen against every great en-
sineering plan. every invention con-
ceived of in the history of the world.
Any impartial intelligent person
knows that any project based on scien-
tifc principles is achievable; while
our plan may be very defective, we
do not claim that it cannot be i'm
proved upon; and besides, above all
others, we claim that it will be a
natural gradual growth, and all that
can be done is to prepare the way
and hasten the time by applying an
oar.
Then we have the sentimental
variety-a "generous" class-whe
point out to you the Scriptural say
ing: "The poor ye have with ye al
ways" They fear that the philan-
thropist's mission in life will be
abrogated.
And then there is the prattle of
"individuaIism, independence, lib
ertyw A single person is an indi-
vidual, but, it seems to some, col
lection of them lose their Individual
ity. A brick is a brick; but one
brick upon another is necessary to
put it to use by making a building;
vet is not each brick still a brick?
Does it lose its brickship? Is not
its individuality really intensified by
making it ornamental and useful?
AS for independence, can any of
our ''independent" citizens show us
anything that exists that is indepen-
dent? How about the laws of gray
ity, that bind and hold matter to.
n