Workmen's advocate., 1889-06-08
OUR "SOCIETY."

At present all classes are in a chronic state of anxiety; security and happiness are well nigh driven from the earth.
 The rich man is feverishly watching the rise and fall of stocks, the commer- cial standing of his debtors, the failure of banks and enterprises, the absConding of cashiers, from any one of which sources gaunt ruin may come and in- spire him with thoughts of suicide.
 The next class, .who have responsible positions and good salaries, live in con- stant dread of being discharged; the dis charge may come along any one of a dozen avenues, and COnsign them to the ranks of the monster army of the unem- ployed. Care, trouble and anxiety sit on the brows of hosts of the rank and file of industry, because even while TO- bust and employed it takes all they earn to support ther families. When they think what the fate of their children may be when age and sickness overtake them, l wonder how they dare raise them?
 It is fact that eternal toll does not bring wages enough to the myriads of shop girls to pay for clothing, board and lodging
 The gentlemen who are the cause of prostitution, by taking as profit what should be paid as wages, are piously shocked at the effect, and subscribe to support the home for fallen women. There should be home for fallen men, and they should be the prisoners.
 No retormer wishes to take individual property from those who have it. Those who are wealthy are welcome to what they have. For if the wealth produc- ing machinery of the world were al- lowed to run in concerted action, pro- ducing the things we need in true pro- portion, for the people, by the people,. there would be twice as much wealth as there Is now at the end of sinrle year, and the general expression on the faces of men and women would be radi- ent and free from care.
 The river of Socialism is still near it's source, but 1t is rapidly approaching the junction Of great many tributaries. Streams from the mountains of recti- tude; streams from the highlands of intellectual ability; streams from the valleys of peace, plenty and good will to man-all these will soon swell it's mighty bosom to Amazon proportions, and banlsh poverty for the industri-. ous) from the face of the earth.
 l nave clrcumnavlgated the globe. My spirit of adventure has taken me among savages; my profession as all ar tlst has taken me among the very wealthy; my inclination has taken me among the civilized in philosophical so- cletleS, and my sympathies have taken me among the poor.
 All we can have here is food, clothing and shelter; and that as essential to hap plneSs as these, is this: That your own private. opinion of yourself shall be good. It Is far better to lose the good opinion 0f lO,0OO others; you can get away from them, but you cannot get away from yourself, and to know that you are eter nally In the company of contemptible boodler Is a price that a philosopher won pay. l consider the grasping (bv legal robbery) of enormous sums of other mems earnings villainous amhi. ton, and that the man who is instru. mental in leaving little more justice on the face Of the earth, leaves humanity a legacy for which they will be grateful.
 lhere are many savages In broadcloth and plug hats who entertain the parbar ouS luea to-day that some men were born to work and provide for other men. The so-called elite of England. for instance, think it A great blot on their escutcheOn if their great great grandfather ever did any work. To nave earned any part of what they spend Is great disgrace. Now, it is a evident proposition that the only honest men are they who give society value for what society gives them. They who consume enormously and have never produced anything, are abso. iutely dishonest and are living on the legally stolen earnings of others. Then what state of perverted logic and mo- ralIty thls Is, that will make men boast that they and their forefathers have al- ways been parasites on the industrious! insist that an honest man Is the noblest of men. maintain that 1t is impossi- ble 10 be honest unless you give society the equivalent of what you consume: and yet society is still so far from ius- tlce that to be honest Is to be despised. but to be an eternal parasite IS to be a nobleman.- Prot. C. Orchardson ia Hooking Fol card"