Daily Republican., 1890-06-18
WOULD soc1ALI.M DEeRADss
[coMxUxIcArnp.1

poses 70 do fos The whole people what |
rotten Demoers cy does for classes. Now.
socialism looks upon this state of things ;
- species Of baSbar.snl, as foolish as 1t |
10 wicked, and q wicked as 1t is un.
natural. Socialism proposes that ull
children shall be thoroughly educated-l
educated In manner the completeness
OF which We know rothing about in our |
present chaotic state OF learning. And |
that thoy shall not be compelled to enter
the industrial army uutll they have
passed tho age Of childhood and that
when they do bogip to labor they shall |
be free to choose what they will do, aud |
shall have the opportunity to change |
their occupation Il they discover that
they have made mi.tske. Under So
ciaiism the liberty OF choice OF occupa-
ton would be tncomparably greater
than now.
But what about slavery after the choice
has been made? Would It be greater or
~ great under socialism as nowl Let us
SEQ. Are our present Government en-
ployss, with all tho disadvantages Of the
present insane and wicked reign OF cor.
rupt politicians, under which the EN-
ployes have no voice in their own man-
agenlent any worso slaves than the ON
ployes OF individuals or corporationsf Is
tho vast army Of workers on our civil
service list any more an army OF slaves
than the workers In private or corporate
enterprises? Arc our letter carriers any
more alaves than our district messenger
boys? Are the printers and engravets
In the public printing Offices any more
slaves than pers0ns similarly employed
by private conoernsi Are our public
school teachers any worse slaves than
our private school teachers?
II so, why 10 II that 30 many men and
women sre falling over each other in the
effort 70 get into government employ,
whether OF nation, State. county, city or
town. Few persons would be 90 anxious
to become slaves when they might retain
the freedom Of being employed iu pri-
vste enterprises. What reason have we
10 believe that the employees Of a govern
ment would be any worse oil than the
employees Of the Pennsylvania Raiiroad
Company, or that . government tele-
grapher would look back with longing
Tor the freedom that he enjoyed under
Jay Gould, or thst . government coal
miner would pine for the sood old days
when he WAS FREQ man under the bene-
flcient reign O. tho truly good
coal barons. II you think that
the saleswomen In our great stores
than thsy would bo If these stores
were under government management, or
that tho sewing women OF our tenement
houses, driven ~ they are BY merciless
| sweaters, crowded into unventilated
rooms, working for crust OF bread and
| cup OF tea day, are more free than
they would be in splendidly appointed
government factory, ! advise you to
read Helen Campbell's "Prisoners Of
Poverty" Ponder npon what she says
OF these flnes 10 which the women and
children are subjected; upon the tyranny
OF the heads Of departments over them;
upon the violations OF the laws OF COM
fort, health, and every decency to which
they submit, upon tho slow torture to
which they arc subjected by their hard
taskmastsrs and exacting customers.
Read the story Of how they suffer physi-
cAlly, mentally and morally; Of how
many Of them work from fifteen to eigh-
teen hours; oi how the harder they work
Lhe les they get; Of how they are robbed
by everybody with whom they deal.
Read the story aud keep the tears back
II you eau, II you have not pe.rihcation
OF the heart, aud putridcstion OF the
brain. Read the story and not swear to
give your life for the overthrow OF the
hellish system under which such things
are possible, II you can. Government
control OF these industries, ~ socialists
propose, would mean not moro than
seven hours work each working day,
aud not less than thousand dollars q
year Tor the most efficient OF tho busy
army Of toilerA. Il she a free woman
who works under brutal boss sixteen
hours a day for 30 ceptsl And would
che become 4 slave II sho worked, under
happy conditions, seven hours . day for
$500. II you think the people employed
in our great factories and along our
transportation lines are FREQ, ask them
and hear them tell Of the numberless
reg ulations and general ord,rs TO which
they are subjected 10, aud In which they
have no voice.
Would these work people te more en-
slaved under g. ciali-m than they now
are, subject as they are TO arbitrary rules
made Tor them by their bosses, to which
they are obliged to submit through fear
oil poverty. I tell you no, for socialism
such as have been describing would In
sure all these work people q good educa-
tion to begin with and 1t would insure
them handsome Income every year that
they were willing TO work, and care for
them In old aye. Aud you cannot on
slave well educated people who know
| DOtning OF Waut Of snc iohr OI want.
Besides this, socialism would make
every workshop . pure Democracy, in
| which all rulss and regulations would be
made by the workmen themselves,
and every superintendent and foreman
would be accountable not to ''the COM
psnJ" but TO the workmen themselves.
A nation Of WE'LL educated people in the
enjoyment OF plenty cannot bo the kind
OF slas es that most of US are, and would
certainly work out their perfect freedom.
You SEQ how large . subject this Ia. But
still love 10 thiuk of this world filled
with people faved from the present hell
| OF ignorance, poverty, vice and crime,
and feel sure that there will yet be such
a world, and It is the duty OF all kind,
humane people who love God and their
fellow man to try 10 establish kingdom
Of heaven on earth. JAMES .. WEIGH.
II