Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-02-16
EVOLUTlON-SOClALlSM,


In accordance with the laws of
social evolution, political and indus
trial arrangements inevitably adjust
themselves to the popular character.
Hence there is no reason to fear that
socialism peaceably attained can be
attained too soon. But "sOcialism"
superinduced by coerslve force upon
a people not developed up to its ma
ture by education, intelligent con-
yiction, and coordinate growth by
experience in the line of socialistic
or semi-soclallstic enterprises, would
be as unnatural and anti-rev0lution-
AIRY as would be the grating of a
mature mans head on the neck of a
newborn infant, The operation
could not be a success. Societary
births, as well as the human infant,
must wait till the period of full and
proper development is fulfilled.
Otherwise sickness and early death
ensues. No good and much evil
may result from an attempt to hurry
matters, The wiser plan is, to sup
ply as favorable conditions us posi-
bic to secure healthful, natural de-
velopment, and let the result come
in its own fullness of time, with as
little of worry and fret and uneasl-
ness rs can be. This is in accord
ance with the genius and spirit of
socialism, which is essentially, in its
own proper character, system of
peaceful cooperation for peaceful
ends and the general mutual welfare.
A people cannot Jump at one bound
from savagery or barbarlsm into civ
llizatlon or enlightenment; no more
can they leap all at once from a
competitive commercial system of
society INTO socialism. Society is a
growth, and so, also, are forms of So
ciety. They do not spring full
tledged into existence. Hence the
wise and well instructed socialist,
however feryently his heart beats
with longing for the realization of
his ideal, schools himself to wait
with patience and bide his time,
while he helps as best he may the
peaceful progress of social evolution;
progress III which evolution may be
more retarded by unwise and violent
methods on the part of s0-cal1ed
socialists than by all the opposition
of its bitterest avowed enemies.
Such is the position of the consist
ent socialist; and herein is apparent
the wide difference between the So
cialist and the anarchist with his
creed sanctloning the use of "any
and every means,' calling workmen
to arm themselves, spreading broad
cast a description of the process of
making dynamite bombs, suggesting
incendiarlsm (Hare you got q match
ab0Nt y0u ?)-openly or coyertly in
citing to or instigating destructive
violence, etc. The difference in
methods, to say nothing concerning
aims, is as palpable as the difference
between sunshine End darkness, or
peace and war. The advocates or
instigators of violent means, instead
of awaiting the natural course of
evolution in sOcietary development,
would try to hasten the advent of
new system Of society by perfor ming
what the physicians call the Caesar
ian operation" upon the "body poll
tic of what must necessarily be the
mother system of society. They
would murder the mother by their
barbarous anarchic surgery, in or
der to bring the new social infant
into the world before it is properly
developed, and before the proper en-
vlronment to maintain its health
full existence is secured.
So much for the process Of anarch-
ic ACCOMPLISHMENT. Now, what sort
of being is this infant aHarchy?