St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-13
ON SOCIALISM.
Rev. II. NJ. Simmons breaches on
Its Advantages and Dangers.

Rev. Ii. NJ. Simmons preached on
''Socialism'' yesterday morning. He
said that, while denouncing every ex-
treme and violent form of socialism, he
thoroughly agreed with its general
principle, which is that the earth be-
longs to all mankind; that its industries
should be managed for the benefit of
mankind: and their products be fairly
divided among all who labor to produce
them. The opposite principle of indi-
yidualism has been carried to excess.
Feudal lords have gone, but financial
ones have taken their place. Monarchs
have been dethrOned, but have been
succeeded by mOneyed kings, who, if
they cannot command Legislators. can
buy them up. The poorer classes are
left dependent, and often destitute, and
there is need enough of asserting and
emphasizing this truth of social unity.
For that milder form of socialism which
is getting into university chairs and
churches of all kinds, and into the
minds of just and human people every
where, we should be thankful.
But so far as socialism aims to dis
pense with that other principle Of indi-
vidual freedom and competition have
developed human industry and worth,
and cannot be dispensed with. We
still need that struggle for existence
which has been the great agent of past
progress, and it is not at all probable
that the plenty and ease which the So
cialists aim at would benefit men, or
even satisfy them. Many socialistic ex-
periments which have brought these
coveted conditions have still failed.
Many have not succeeded at all in
bringing these conditions, and those
which have, have done it with a sup
preston of human instincts and free
dom. ANY socialism which attempts TO
regulate all the work and lives of men
must necessarily be SO tyrannical that
perhaps Herbert Spencer was justified
Ill calling it the coming slavery In
deed it has already brought q sort OF
slavery among labOring men. Where is
the freedom in an organization which
makes its members submit so SlaviShly
to its rules, and compells all honest man
who wishes TO work during strike to
be insulted as 'scab,' and perhaps
have his head broken besides? Nay,
what is the strike itself, by which
thousand men drop their tools and go
without their wages for months at the
bidding of some officer hundred miles
away. What is this but slavery as real
as if they did it at the command of a
capitalist or king? Any socialism which
adopted such methods would Justify
Bastiat'S term of 'deSpotism incar-
nate.'
sit is probable that the state will in
time manage various departments of
work that are now i'll private hands. 1t
ought to own and manage everything
that is of the nature of monopoly. 1t
ought not TO allow any man to appro-
10 Tor
and tie them for the future as Iegacies.
Limitations ought to be made in all
these things. But in most fields private
competition can probably manage as
well as government monopoly. Govern
ment officers are a good deal like other
men. Politics does not have even so
high reputation for purity as private
business. Politics cost the country
enough money and trouble now, and if
we should turn over to them all our
railroads and real estate and shipping
and shops and shoemaking and doctor
ing and dishwashing, l hardly dare say
what would become of the country, but
fear electiOneerlng would take so much
of the time that little else could be done.
When even presidential election spoils
one year in four, it is TO be feared that
a full-hedgcd socialism of that kind
would spoil the other three.
The principles of both socialism
and individualism need to be kept and
harmonized, and thus the similar princi-
plies are harmonized in the solar system.
The poor need to be remember that
even the competition of rich men help
society: and there Is much truth in Mr..
Atkinson's saying that Vanderbilt, by
SO chcapenlng the carriage of grain and
the cost of food, has been the great
communist of the age. The rich need
make all business just. and even gen
erous to them. And both need to re-
member their unity and mutual depend
ence. And all need to need to remem-
Ter that our welfare depends not SO
much on Onr institutions as on the
character of the citiZens.''