Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-02-16
NO COM PROMISE.
To the WOrkmen'S AdUocdte:


thank you for publishing my card on
Christian Socialism. To those who have
written me on the subject would say
that we are going ahead and | will send
them notice of our action as soon as
ready, but may say through your col
umns general word on the subject of
socialism? | think that one thing we
socialists need to do to-day is to show
no compromise. Socialism is making
marvellous strides to-day through all the
land. Much seems hopeful, but | think
at such time we ought to be careful not
to be led away by our votes into
making any compromise of our es-
sential principles. Some people seem
to think that anything that tends
to limit competition is socialism.
It's not. True socialism must be demo-
cratic. Merely to extend the power of
the government is not socialism neces-
sarily for the government may be arlsto.
cratic, autocratic, plutocratic, any
thing but democratic. If merely to ex-
tend the power of government were to
be socialistic then the Car of Russia
the Sultan of Turkey, autocrats of
every kind were the truest socialists be-
cause they most extend the powers of
government. This in absurd. Bis
marck is not socialist His State In
surPnce is but sop to keep the people
quiet under his iron rule. Our United
States Post Office, though often called
so, is not truly socialistic. AS long as
our Senate is but club of millionaires,
the White House but palace put up at
public auction, and rented for four
years to the highest. bidder, our Con-
gress but gathering of railroad attor~
neys and retainers for Trusts, our gov
ernment is more pleutOCratic than dem
ocratic and to extend its power is but to
extend tyranny. We need to remember
what William Morris says in his mani
festo of the English socialist League,
mo number of merely administrative
changes until the acOrkers are in posses
sion of all political power would make
any real approach to socialism"
Some people, too, in this country think
that Trusts are stepping stones
to socialism. because they do away
with competition. Perhaps they are
They may lead to socialism, as the
crisis of fever sometimes leads to
health, but let us not delude ourselves
that they are in the least socialistic.
True socialism is the people organized,
tho organic democratic unity of the
whole people, not a government by
monopolists and plutocrats We may
come to this; we seem near it now, but
let every true socialist, every believer in
justice and equity and right, be the peo-
pies friend, stand for the peoples rights.
In this way, too. we shall best defend
our cause People call socialism tyrran-
ical, paternal. They do this because
they do not know what true socialism
is. Let us therefore stand fast by our
principles and show that socialism is
democratic, not government by tyranny
but self government, rule but self rule.
Let us show that it is not paternal
teaching men to depend upon the State,
but fraternal telling men to organize as
brothers not compete and fight over
bones like dogs. The objections to So
cialism come from, those who do not
understand it. Socialism has only to be
understood to be embraced. Let us not
compromise our cause by entangling
alliances. Let us in quiet consciousness
of truth hold our own and know no
compromise, stand for lrue socialism.
democratic, fraternal. equitable, not the
mere doing away with competition by
the extension of tyranny and the very
God of Truth will help us in our battles
Boston, Feb. II. W. D. P. BLISS.
To the Editor Of the Workmen's Aduo-
cate:
Prof. Garide has been ably aiding the
cause of Socialism in st. Paul A large
meeting held here on Feb. 9Th was in
structed and encouraged by his explana-
ton of the historic course of thought
and action forming the Genesis Of
Socialism" We were told of the glor-
ious determination of men to be free
and equal, and the grand result of theil
enforced thought. We were told the
overthrow of the European feudal sys
tenn, the sinking of unjust taxation with