New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-06
THE NEW SOCIALISM
BoSToN'S TWO NATIONALIST soCIETIEa
AND WHAT THEY AIM TO ACCOMPLISH. u

spread rapidly within the last few weeks, ard theiu
members arc enthusiastic the ready acceptance
OF their principles. AccessIons are reported from
many parts of the country and tho leaders look for
general agitation what they fancy be Of The
greatest reforms Of the times Tho sale OF Edward
Bcamy's Looking Backward, has bco0me phs{
nomcna. Tho number Of cop.es sold exceeds 10000
and the sales average 1000 cofles a day. Tho
Dawn which Is the organ Of the Christian Socialists
extending ifs circulation rapidly, and tho organ 81
the Nationalist Club. The Nationalist has circui
lation IN every state and Territory Of the Union}
Nationalist clubs springng up. and IN some sta'es
the Is said 10 be spreading with something
OF the enthusiasm which married the rise Of the Knghs
Of Labor. The clever psusibity OF Looking Bask
ward' has apparently captivated the maginaiions Of
many readers.
1t is expected that n Nationalist league VIII ~
formed socn. bf the present relation Of the dlherent
clubs is that OF detached but kindred organzaiionss
without any centre any bond OF union. In tho casa
of both tho Nationalist and the Christian socialist
movements, Boston tho place o. their birth and 10
Is the centre from which they exert their infucnoei
though In the case OF the Nationalist the enthusiasm
for the cause Is greater I'm several other states than
10 Is here. With the formation OF the proposed league
they Will have a central body which direct operai
tons all over the country. The Christian socialists
are expecting 10 make public demonstration kcrs
soon and to proceed from that point TO prosecute {
lively winter campaign,
These two organizations are closely affiliated AMI
are one I'm having common object. namely, the nav
tionalzation Of all OF the Industries OF the country.
That Is the long word which they use 10 signify thu
putting of all Of the industries Of the country undes
the management Of the National Government sons
exceptions they would make To this rule. For IN.
stance they would have the supplies Of water gas and
electricity and probably the management Of the street
railways, put under the control Of local municipalities
But the larger industries, such the management o,
the postal telegraph and express business, the running
Of the railroads, the operation of the large manufacture
ing establishments and the like, they would put undeD
the authority Of the general Government The work
OF Mr.. Bethany has given THIS sudden prominence To
the idea Of Governmental control because, Is salt
by one OF the members Of the Nationalist Club. 10
seemed TO offer the first practical TO the ques-
tons which have been vexng the minds of these re-
formers for years.
Among the new crusaders some men and woncu
who well known to the public. In the list Of con.
tributors to The Nationalist tho names Of Mrs.
Abby Morton Diaz, Colonel T. W. Higginson, the Rev.
DR.. +. f. Hale Mrs. Helen Campbell, the Rev. nry
Heber Newton, Rabbi SCHNEIDER, General A. +. Dew
ereux Professor Daniel De Leon, OF Columbia College
Edward Bellamy and Others who have reputation
writer's public spirited persons. Among the con.
tributors to The DAWN are Mrs Mary A. Llvermores
tho Rev. o. p. Clifford, OF Boston; Miss Frances y.
Willard Mrs. Diaz, the Rev. DR.. Newton. Mr.. BeIf
lamy and many clergymen and laymen from all parts
members in common, are naturally kindred In them
objects, and the chief distinction between them IL
that the Nationalist proceed directly upon the eco-
nomic line OF reform, while the Christian so-
calists proceed more upon the theory that Il "a
first necessary to change the moral side OF man be-
fore he can be brought 20 sympathke with thein
principles The Christian Socialists urge he mems
bers of their society to live up to their crect
by treating all mankind brothers and by giving
time and money for the spread Of the movement.
Having made themselves right then effort IS a. hs
made to excite popular interest by speaking, writing
and organizing in behalf of their principles. Fol-
lowing In this line comes the political action which
they recommend. The practical objects which ara
SGT before their members include attention To tho
political caucuses that they shall not be
In the interest Of the capitalist the saloonkeeper!
Then systematic effort is to be made for the passage
Of scientific socialstic legislation This legislation
is to begin with the Australian ballot system. whcs
IL has not already been secured. Then an efors
is to be made for the establishment OF relief works
by the several States, cities and towns, where the
unemployed may have work 10 do. Dwellings to
be erected be sold for the cost Of production 10
mechanics and other working people. Trades arc
to be taught also at these places Then all taxes
to be levied far possible upon the rental
of land, especially upon mines and upon land which
Is held for purposes Of speculation. Mines hereafeB
opened are TO be the property Of the Nation Eight
hours are to be the length Of days labor; Saturday
afternoon is to be holiday, and observance OF sunday
is 10 be enforced. Women must be enfranchlsed;
the poll tax qualification of suffrage must be re-
moved; the Civil Service be radically reformed
technical education must be made free; the school
age must be raised and midday meal must be given
NJ every scholar the private schools must be super
vised; liquor selling must be restricted: saloons must
not DO licensed, but must be suppressed wherever
possible; the Governmental control must DO eX.
tended over railroads. telegraphs, the production Of
lswkt
in order TO prepare the way for the complete control
OF the Government in the industrial world.
The Nationalist have not detailed system
OF work thus laid down. but II comes 10 the sams
concluslOn-the ma ionalzation OF all industry. sOms
Of the moderate Of the Nationalist in cOnyor-
saon say that they do not expect 10 force the course
OF than the natural Of development.
Their principle is that when industry has 50 far
become a monopoly that all competition IS crushed
out, that there is no longer any Individuality
about a., then is the time for II 10 be turned over
TO the control OF the National Government Ia tho
case OF the telegraph they say that that time has
come already The Government can easily stop IL,
take control Of the lines, operate them In the Interest
Of the public, do business at cost, give the people
their telegraph vastly cheaper rates than
at present, and them from paying dividends To
rich capitalists upon large amounts OF water, which
are reckoned in the capital stock SO they would do
with the telephone. SO they would do with tho
railroads, When the process OF mas
progressed little further They look upon Tia
course Of events proving cOnclisivcly the prao'i-
cabuity Of their plan and they I'm the successys
cons lii atoms of great capital only the steps tOwah
tho realization Of their ideal Of Governmental con-
troll OF all the industry Of Che country. The develop
ment Of trusts Is to them but an illustration OF tho
tendency OF the times. The sugar Trust they say,
has helped along the cause OF Naa0naism more than
any other recent occurrence or development.
The fundamental position OF The Natlonallsts IL
that the present industrial system, In which COM
petitiOn Is the ruling principle Is wrong 20 the very
bottom Competition in tle industrial w0rld,'
they say, is like war in the relations Of nations.
IL Is really state OF war, and must be stopped, az
a severe injury to the prosperity OF the people.
The true principle Of managing the industries Of a
nation is that of combination instead OF competition
Proof OF this Is furnished by the very trusts which
are so generally condemned But the people who
enter the trusts, from one point OF Wow, shout
not DO condemned, for they arr but following tho
Inevitable tendencies OF tho age and are oOeyins
laws which are above them and which they musa
obey II they are % continue 10 DO blslness.1 Pc1ce