Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-03-08
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, JR.

The Puny Son of a Giant misinterprets
Socialism, the Advent of which his
Father Worked for.
And now comes another distinguished
humbugologist, whose great name is in
striking contrast to his small intellectual
size.
Mr.. William Lloyd Garrison delivered
an essay on "Paternalism VS.. Freedom"
to large audience in Horticultural
Hall, Boston, last Sunday afternoon.
After referring to the everywhere
spread idea that the world owes everyone
a living, he said: cat the root of almost
every large enterprise lies the prosperity
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of private individ-
uals, though these enterprises are made
to appear like gigantic schemes for the
public good, when really it is the inter-
ests of those private individuals that the
government is called upon to protect.
The struggle and scramble for Office Is
only seeking for d way to live without
work, and will severely tes'Ithe strength
of our government. Paternalism is the
artificial opposite to the natural method
of government. Opposed to paternal-
ism is freedom, which prefers a crust
with independence to luxurious ease
where loss of liberty Is exacted. Society
swarms with quacks. Between paternal-
ism freedom the struggle was never
greater than now. Discerhment az we'll
as enthusiasm is needed, and common
sense Is a good anchor to cling to. The
tendency of the times is to industrial
concentration; this would destroy com.
petition, and without competition how
could there be success, and again, how
can competition be restricted SO as to
prevent dangerous success" He then
launched into bitter criticism of So
cialism and Nationalism and contended
that trade, if properly conducted, is the
essence of brotherhood. If the govern
ment will keep to its own place and not
aid individual effort too much, new
heaven will dawn. Ability is costly and
must be paid for.
"Paternallsm, socialism, nationaIism
are but masks of liberty, through which
the eyes of tyranny look out. Too much
is taken for granted in the Bellamy
scheme, and there is rather looking
forward to the year 1000 than a care for
the vital interests of the present time.
The motive power of the Nationalists is
based upon a force that--call it what
you may-is simply despotsm. With
freedom, work could regulate its own
| laws. We do not ask for tavors, but
for justice.
The essence of socialism is that govern
ments know better how to employ in
| dividuals than individuals know how to
| employ themselves. The interference
with mans freedom is allowed TO pass
unheeded, because it is carried on indi-
rectly. What is nationalism but the
narrowness that stops at certain geOgra-
! phiCal lines2 Liberty is universal, and
takes into its arms all classes and cOndi-
tions of men, asserting that governments
are made for the people, and not the
people for government. Nationaljsm il
| that sense is therefore an anti sOcialistiC
movement. Individual freedom alone
can bring the ideal government.
Here again we have repetition of the
tactics followed by all humbugologists-
a solid mass of falsehood thinly coated
with truth; an appeal to liberty for the
benefit of capitalistic laiSSez fdirc; q
wilful confusion of two ideas radically
opposed to each other, viz: Paternalisu
lin the bad sense, or the Patria PoteSta,
principle applied to political govern
ment), and Brotherly Cooperation, ol
industrial self.government -- Organized
Despotism and Organized Freedom.
And, mark well, it is capital. the self
assumed father of labor, who, after
using the rod of Paternallsm with ;
vengeance, claims in the name Of liberty
the right to eat his so called children.
What spanking this unworthy sciol
of the great Garrison would have got a
the hands Of his noble sire for thu
disgracing by his bamboozlosophy th'
name of the man who, with Wendell
Phillips, drafted the Socialist platform
! of the New England Workmen in 1916