Workmen's advocate., 1890-12-27

OfueT Ot mann alntu without use or physical force; (See article 14l For instance, must women have no proteC- ton against outrage but their own pas. slve resistance.
 ls-"l believe that human beings will be happier when there Is neither state nor Church, as at present constituted bGt l would not use weapons of physical warfare against either, because neither can nor should be destroyed except by public opinion alone"
 As the Socialists State will be volun tary association ot the people for the general welfare, believe that with such State the people will be happier. The "State, as at present constituted", will be rightly abolished by whatever means are necessary, when the ma jority of people comprehend ls iuiQuity Public opinion mUsf be expressed in physical form, or It cannot nave any outward manifestation.
 11-"l believe that persons who use physical weapons against their fellows are enemies of order and are dangerous to society,"
 So do l, if the ''felIows" are not dangerous te society, but in the case of a man, or 8 number of men, running amuck', aud kilhng or maining all thty meet, physical weapons" may be as essential as they are for destroying mad dogs, and the persons who use such weapons, for such purposes, cannot rightly be described as they are in ar tlcle F.
 lS-"I believe that no person should be compelled t0 obey another against his will, or be physically punished by ano, ther for anyt!ing."
 Does the tirst clause include young children, and drunken or other insane persons? If not--achy not? And it is not quibbling to call attention to the words physically punished", in the second clause, and t0 ask what sort of punish ment Mr. Rentecost does believe in, and by whom it should be administered?
 l9-"l believe there is no personal God
 An entirely private matter, that might judlciously have been omitted from the Platform.
 20-"I believe there is no proof of con. scious, personal human existence after death."
 This, also, might we'll have been omit. ted from political Platform,
 2l-"I believe the Bible contains many words of wisdom and truth intermjngled with legends, myths, and errors.
 Confirmed.
 22---"I believe that, apart from his supernaturaism, in his general conduct and teaching, Jesus is the ideal man
 Whatever IS, is natural. Hence, there cannot be anything supernatural,
 23-''I believe in honesty, cleanness of life, beauty, gentleness, frlendliness, love, peace, ana freedom
 Approved. But the "peace" must not be craven peace.
 24-sI believe I make myself happier by seeking to promote the happiness of others"
 hope that belief is well founded.
 25-'I believe have no unkind feeling toward any human being"
 Nevertheless. l suspect he greatly dis like the venomous sort, and, sometimes, almost feels unkind towards unmiti gated hypocrltes
 26-"l believe the world is happier now than ever before, and will be happier yet,'
 think the belief specified in the first clause is a mistaken one, but endorse the latter.
 Mir. PenteCOst is doing some admirable work, but, like the traditional flea, we don't always know when we've got him or lost him. He has skipped from one ,l l,,oroalH onint tn hnr Iptil hn has reached the dumping off place. Anarchism. Whether he will next leap out into the boundless depth of Theooo- phy, Gas Mr. Besant has done,) or come back to the firm ground of Socialism, have not predict-but l hope he will choose the latter. In it's ranks he will find no one advocating ''an equal dlvl- sion of property'-or of atmosphere, or of brains. In it's Platform he will find no lncongrulties, and may see that the utmost possible amount of individual liberty that can be enjoyed without in- ringing the liberty of others IS provided for. True, we approve of the use of physical force" in cases where nothing better will serve to protect the rights of individuals against invasion by physical force; and we consider such form of de- fence as necessary, in some cases, as it is to defend ourselves, by physical force, against the assaults of tigers, or of cen tipedes.
 This communication is already long enough. In concluding it, will say that my criticisms are written in an en- tirely friandly spirit, and with the hope of inducing MT. Pentecost to reconsider hls position in relation to Socialism.
 VIM HARRISON RILEY.
 Townsend Centre, Mass.