Workmen's advocate., 1889-06-15
GROWTH OF SOCIALISM.
A Real Estate Expert Gives His Views
 on the Subject.

A correspondent of the New York Real Estate RecOrd aud Builders Guide, who claims to be an "old Jetfersonian, who believes that "the activity of the State outside of very narrow limit is an evil, wrote letter to the editor, in which he said:
 "A protest is necessary. The protest of every man is necessary. We are drifting into Socialism as fast as we decently can, and what surprises me is that so few of us are aware of it. Look around. Things have come to such pass that one cannot go to church, take up a magazine, attend public meeting, or hold ten minutes conversation on general affairs without having to face Socialism"
 The editor, in his answer, tells his "old subscriber" some very palpable truths, which, coming from such a source, are worthy of consideration. He says
 "We give space to our correspondents letter because, in spite of his alarm at the growth of Socialism, his communi- cation voices the ideas of still very nu- merous class. It is true we are all Socialists now though mostly of the kind that do not recognize their Social ism The signs of the times are strongly Socialistic, and there is very little doubt that a larger and larger measure of So- cialism will yet prevail.
 "It seems to us our correspondent IS needlessly alarmed at the coming Social ism. He exaggerates it, He sees it in all-pervading tyranny imposed upon society from without. Mankind, how ever, rarely accepts theory and then resolutely puts it into complete practice. On the contrary, the world proceeds by experiment, and is led by one fact to another. Socialistic measures, when ever adopted, will be adopted irrespec- tive of any theory or principle They will not be the work of Socialists. They will not be imposed upon society from without, but will be growth from within, and will conform to some need of society. Their existence will be the patent of their right to exist.
 1t is worth pointing out to our lief l fersonian friend that the long reign of Individualism in this country and ir Great Britain has been preparing the way and is still preparing the way fol Socialism. The consolidation the work ing class into trades unions and larger organizations wherein the interests of each is subordinate to the interests of all, the growth of benevolent labor sO- cieties, which in England have distrib uted $17,00O, GOO in supporting unem ployed members, the establishment ot mutual insurance societies, have al been 'centralizing' labor, thus prepar ing the way for the control of labor by the State, just as the trust is cen tralizing commerce and the consolida tion of railroads the transportation o the country. From these to the State is a comparatively short step, one tha can be taken when a larger and more difficult one could not. All centraliza tion is towards State control.
 "No doubt to many people the domi nance of the State over the individua will seem intolersble-that is. intolerabl under present conditions. But condi tions change. The Jeffersonian idle; might continue to be the safest guide i this country continued as it was unde Jefferson. But in many respects we ar as far away from Jefferson as iron SesOstris"