Workmen's advocate., 1888-11-17
SOCIALISM TO-DAY.
It's Onward March-Men Must Do That
 Which They Are.


 Anyone acquainted with the prog ress of socialism and the various phases of its onward march, will not be surprised at its present position, nor at the proportions the movement has now assumed. In bygone days men dreamed, theorlzed, hoped for, scarcely dared to hope that men would become permeated with their doctrines. But in this day socialism is fact, an accepted principle of political economy, and It's tenets are philosophic axioms. It's teachers are ranked amongst the leaders of modern thought; no economic move ment has for centuries stirred the world like this; nations have been disturbed; parliaments and senates have been forced to take cognlzance of this doctrine, while colleges and universities have been divided upon this all-important question. And it has come to be question of domes- tic importance, and IS considered not only as affecting political changes, but as touching the nearer ties of domestic relationship; it means to the masses a possible change in their economic conditions, an advance in the scale of human progress; to their children emanci- patton from the social bondage of the past, and an opportunity, an open pathway to the pinnacle of human happiness.
 Knowing this, the men who have attached themselves to the doctrine of socialism determined upon the active propaganda of their princi- pies, by every means possible to ar rest the attention of men, and to advance the culmination of their hopes.
 Socialism is a truth, a burning vital principle, but like all other truths it is abstract; its theory or doctrine or principle can of itself accomplish nothing. Truth of itself is powerless; it is not aggressive, but passive; it may be denied, passed by, neglected, yet 1t nevertheless is truth. Action IS required, persist ent, stubborn presentation of the truths, with a ceaseless activity in the demonstration of them. It is only by this means that the require ments of the people may be codifed in legislation, and the reform of ex- isting systems, whether it be of a radical or conservative character, can only be accomplished by the same method. Men whose indlvidu- alities are impregnated with any principle live up to that principle, and no man can demonstrate or teach anything the principle of which is not personltied in him, nor can men do other than act who pos sess truth; they must act CT live the truths they possess, they must do that which they are.
 A Socialist, therefore, must act or live his doctrines so fur as possible, under present systems, and one method of doing so is the open and active opposition to and denuncia- ton of antagonistic doctrines and systems.
 Socialism is d system of unity of the many for a common good, and few as they are in number they can well spare those who by any means desire to act independent of the common will. The glittering gen. erallties of platform gush, breathing defiance to the will of the majority, or the columns of type set to catch those who probably may be to some extent disappointed at the vjsiJle re- suit of the recent action are not by any means to be understood as so- cialistic atterances. Socialism has q well defined system of propaganda, of which political action is not the least. PROLETAR. He icautiOusIy)-What would yOu dc