The Labor enquirer., 1888-03-17
SOCIALISM.
The Religion Of Humanity; the
Doctrine Of Truth and
Real Morality.
IYSYHEADVOCAYE OF PEACE.
Not a Mushroom Growth but . Grad.
uai Development OF the
Higher Ideas.

The following excellent paper
was prepared and read by Charles
M. Johnson before the Denver
Social League on last Sunday
evening:
Mr.. Chairman, Comrades and
Friends,
For what ! have to say tonight
and the manner in which | may
say it, ] have no apologies to offer.
The objects of this League. as |
apprehend them, are, primarily,
to teach the principles Of social
ism; to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth,
concerning those principles, there
by converting souls to the Religion
of Humanity.
This being a self-evident truth,
it is proper here to state a few OF
the principles of socialism-and
when say socialism, | mean SCI
entihc state socialism as taught by
Buchanan, Haskell, Swinton,
Hyndman. Morris and others, and
not anarchism; for ! believe in
anarchism, as understand it,
pretty much the same as ! do in
the millennium-they can only be
ushered in after the human race
has arrived at that perfect state in
which everyone will do right be-
cause it is right, and not from the
fear of the penalties of man-made
laws. Now, in my humble opinion,
il that perfect state ever does OBJ
tain, il WILDE after the race has
lived under the reign of socialism
for perhaps thousands of years.
The foundation principle of
socialism is co-operation-univer-
sal or governmental cooperation,
as some are pleased to put it-as
a substitute for universal competi-
ton. That is to say, system Of
production and distribution Of the
necessarics and luxurics Of life in
which one will work for the inter-
ests of all and all for one-not
each seeking to cut the throat Of
the other (6gurativeY speaking)
as now.
Another principle is that every
person is, entitled to the full
products of his own toll; and Of
course it logically follows that
none shall reap profits off another's
toll in any manner whatever.
Then unjust accumulations OF
wealth would cease; there would
be none extremely rich and none
extremely poor.
Socialists would hold the land
as the free gift of God to man,
the same as air, light and water,
and not as property, either private
or common, everyone being en-
titled to as much as may be neces-
sary for his existcnce-use and
occupancy determining the right.
Socialists advocate the Referen-
dunn, by which is meant the refer
ring back to the people of all laws
for their approval or rejection.
You will probrbly hear more OF
this principle tonight as it is the
subject for debate.
The Imperative Mandate is a
principle that all socialists are
agreed upon. Its object is that
the power (the people that sends
A United States senator to Wash
ington for six years, may recall
him and send another at any time
it may see fit.
Socialism would abolish rent,
profit, interest, wage-slavery and
competition, and would substitute
for these, cooperation, love. JUS
tice, liberty, equality and fratf ity'
These are but a few OF the rrin-
ciples of socialism, stated dn a
general andO disconnected way
but il it will arouse anyone to an
investigation of the labor question
then am satisfied.
The question may be asked
"How can all this be brought
about1" 1t cannot be done in an
hour. in a day. in a month, nor in
a year; but it is the gradual