Workmen's advocate., 1888-05-26
PHYSICAL FORGE.

Objections to Socialism may be divided soughly into two classes-the economic and the moral, The economic objections, never very strong, are having their in herent weakness demonstrated more and more every day, and it is but rarely now that they are seriously brought forward, and then only by those who are gnor int of what true political economy is. AL though individualism in its worst form is the active handspring of capitalism, most thinking people acknowledge that the only true law of human life and the only real guarantee of human progress is the organic solidarity of society, a solidarity which shall embrace all it's members and make the common good the common n- terest of all, To this society of the future, a society which will be based upon the best clements of humanity, the individualism which is founded upon what are really the savage instincts of mankind must inevitably give place.
 Granted, say some of those who are by no means eager to oppose us gen erally. I've believe in your aims, we sympathize with your aspirations, and we, too, think that the individuahsm of to-day is doomed. But your methods these are to us essentially immoral You are constantly talking about revolution, you want to violently upset the present social order without waiting till you get parliament and law-abiding citizens on your side, and instead of attempting to bring about the desired end by moral means, you do not hesitate to say that, if necessary, you are prepared to resort to physical force"
 These objections are put forward con sclentlously by many people, and with them wish to deal To two classes of persons have nothing to say Those who, like Mir. Bradlaugh, deliberately pick out every violent expression that is uttered by hungry men smarting under the sense of social injustice, and crate about them as if they were the essence of deliberate Socialist teaching utterly ignoring all that is said on the other side, and who wilfully picture the Socialist revolution as intended universal rapne, burning houses, and gutters running with blood can be let alOne-they are not worth considering, And there is no arguing with those who conscientOusly disbelieve in all force whatever l have the greatest respect for their opinions, and believe that world which had ar rived at a height of morality which would allow it to be based upon their principles would be the best of all possi- sible worlds. But while we are waiting for this world, men, women and children. the weaker ones of our social system are pershing every day under the iron heel of capitalism, and to save these l am prepared to use such force as may be necessary to bring about the first steps of the transformation which shall lead to the new society.
 The confused ideas which many well meaning persons bave as to the aims and methods of Socialists often seem to crys- tallze into the notion that the latter really wish to bring about the social change by violent methods It cannot be said too often or too strongly that any men who had the choice of peace able means on the one hand and violent means on the other, and deliberately chose the latter, would be simply crimi- nals. But the whole matter turns on the question as to whether there is likely to bC ai) NllOlCt' ltSN NOluIlOno CdllnbI Dt made to order-rhey are just as much historically evolved as any other social changes, and gwen the necessary social conditions they will inevitably occur Now the coming struggle between the capitalists and the workers must and will be revolutionary one because it is a class struggle. It will be no mere re adjustment of taxation or of political machinery, but a determined effort to disposseSs the privileged classes of the power which has hitherto enab!et them to live on the labor of others. | will be no mere granting a vote to the masses. but the masses compelling the classes to go to work and earn their living by the sweat of their brow It will be the third great social change in the history of civilization, and previous experience teaches us that the classes are not very likely to submit quietly when the time comes for them to take their places in the factory, at the bench, or in the workshop. | am now, of course, speak ing from the standpoint of what is com monly called contiscation, but what is really restitution. l quite admit that compensation versus contiscation is no part of economic Socialism, but, as far as 1 know, the real Socialist party of the entire world are non-compensator5 Here and there a half-hearted so-called Socialist, imbued with the desire of be- ing all things to all men, may advocate