Workmen's advocate., 1888-11-24

coming "Co-Operatve industrial Sys- | tenn the wage workers must first gain control of the Government, which to- day is controlled by the "capitalistlc class, the same class that owns all the gigantic means of modern production, and through that ownership controls the present industrial system.
 This is not explicitly set forth in the platform of tho K. of l.. but in the plat form of the Socialist Labor Party" we find reference to the "Declaration of Independence, saying that all men are endowed by their creator with certain inalicnable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happi- ness, and that to secure these rights "Governments' ale instituted among men
 It was upon this declaration of human rights that the Government of the United States was founded.
 Does the Government to-day protect the life liberty ann pursuit of happiness of all its citizens?
 Are the conditions brought about by the present industrial system consistent with the interests of mankind and the principles of justice and true democracy as laid down III the Declaration of lnde- | pendence
 No! Our present industrial system tends to shorten and lmperIl life by want and misery; to destroy liberty because the economic subjection of wagework- CTS to the owners of the means of pro. | duction immediately leads to their po- litical dependence; and finally to frus- | hn of Nr htrh never possible when life and personal | liberty are in constant danger A truly Democratic government does dot do it's duty if it does not protect the property inherent in every human being, to wit: "The working strength (muscIe and main) which represents life, liberty, and general happiness, and everything else that man is "endoWed with by his Creator, and which creates all Uther property.
 Now, if it is the function of Govern. ment to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the Dec laration of Independence tells us that that is the function of CiOvernment), and if we have recognized the fact that these human rights are only attalnabe under "Co-operative Industrial Sys- tenn, we can very readily understand how important It is that the wage-work- ing class of Society twho cannot attaln those rights under the present industrial system) should first gain control of the power of government.
 Having one, gained control of the | governmental power, the wageworkers would immediately inaugurate measures to gain control of the great means of transportation either by purchase at actual cost, or by construction of new plants and revocation of charters and special franchise), and to establish CO.,
 operative institutions such as will tend
 to supersede the wage-system and intro.
 duCe the Cooperative Industrial Sys-
 tenn. We can then well afford to leave
 it to the good judgment of the elected
 representatives of organized labor how
 to inaugurate these great measures,
 Men who have gone through the school
 of practical industrial experience, and
 who have studied and recognized the
 great "Law of Economic EVoutIOn,' will
 know what measures will be in accord
 with the harmonious development of
 the tendency. "Government will then
 Slhllhdil) lpNt itN Ihi'il IN''t''''' N'''i
 acter, and assume an economic form m harmony with the newly developed eco homie condition of society at large
 When the cooperative industrial sys- tenn becomes the basis of society tor
 the basis of society is always economic
 "Government will then be established
 upon the same basis. will become identi-
 fled with the new economic system, will
 become the "to-operatlve Common
 wealth" The principal function of
 government will then be protection of
 the economic interests of the whole peo- ple a cOnsummatlon of the idea of
 government as laid down in the Dec. laraticn of Independence.
 , Who are the individuals or classes to- l day, who are always ready to sound the warning against "Paternal Govern ment," whenever Organized Labor makes its appeal for government protec ton of its interests:
 They are either those, who are ignor ant of the true function of "Govern ment' and of the tendency of soCia economic evolution, or they are tht very classes who themselves are con
 tinually appealing for and receiving governmental protection, as the bank ,, ers stock gamblers, corporations, mon opolies, and the capitalistlc class gen erally.
 2 Government to-day is indeed tn, , paternal government of the capitalisti' class, and that class has every reason t, , be jealous of the paternal affection of it
 protector.
 The "Co-operatlve Commonwealth 2 will not be be the paternal governmen of any class for all classes will disal - pear in society based upon the co-ol - erative industrial system. There will b f but one economic class. the wv orkers