The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-03-01
SOCIALISM.

The growth of Socialism in Germany
has been wonderful within the past
few years, and how it is powerful
factor in the government which may
even overcome the dictation of Bis
marck. During the recent election
the number of Socialists returned to
the reichstagg has been cause of
alarm to the emperor and premier, and
they begin to realize. that the growth
of public sentiment may even shake
the throne, however solidly it may be
constructed. Democracy is nearly the
same the world over, and though it
may be called Liberalism in England,
Communism in France, Nihilism in
Russia or Socialism in Germany, it
has the uniform aim of liberation of
the masses. In this country we fear
these European revolutionists, because
we have had sad experience with Herr
Most and his followers. 1t is not
strange that the cruelest despotism
should breed the widest anarchy; for
when men are governed too much it is
natural that they should seek redress
in not being governed at all. But it
Is not honest OF fair to class the Irish
home-rulers as dynamiters; French
republicans as communists, or German
socialists as anarchists. 1t cannot be
denied that among the large classes
struggling for freedom few may be
found who would advocate the total
demolition of social rules and general
reformation in all human institutions.
These only constitute a very small mi
norlty and would be utterly powerless
to frame or create system Of ethics
in perfect agreement with the models
which have grown from their diseased
brains
Socialism, at present, is distinctly
German, although it had its inception
in the teachings of Robert Owen IN
Eagland in 1886. Dissatisfied with
the reforms of bis times, Owen and
his followers laid the greater emphasis
on the necessity of social improvement
and reconstruction, and it is obvious
how the name came to be recognized
as suitable and distinctive. Saint.
Simon and Fourier inculcated the
ideas in France, and from there it
spread into Germany. The best au-
thority OH the meaning of the term
as politically used is given by Adolph
Held, where he says that 1--WE may de-
fine as Socialism every tendency which
demand a greater regard for the COM
mon veal than is consistent with
human nature" The doctrine leans
towards the paternalism of goyerr-
ment, but this must be exercised for
the benefit of the members of the
community. 1t aims also at a radical
change in the distribution Of wealth
and property, and in this it leans
towards Communism Janet says it
"teaches that the state has right to
correct the inequality OF wealth and
to legally establish the balance by
taking from those who have too much
in order to give to those who have not
enough, and that in permanent man
ner.' In the first place all social
istic doctrines aim at introducing
greater equolity in social conditions,
and in the second place at realizing
those reforms by the law or the state.
Ven Scheel, great German writer,
has defined it as the economic phil
osopby of the suffering classes" The
most powerful, as well as the most
philosophic, writer of this school is
Karl Marx, and he aimed at SUPER
seding the existing governments by a
vast international combination of the |
workers of all nations, without dis
of creed, color or nationality.
Socialism, although revolutionary |
in it's tendencies, is not essentially
violent or lawless. Its aims are to
change the present condition of labor
and capital and the distribution of
wealth; but the great results are to he
accomplished on economic principles.
The essence of the theory consists i'll
production " ith a collective
,arital with the view to an equitable
and the transformation
Of private competing capitals into
united collective capital. From these
primary theories writer's have branched
tut into all kinds of wild fancies,
rom absolute atheism to Christian
ocialism on the basis of the New
Testament.
The socialism Of Germany is simply
1ernan democracy, and its success
ugurs no disturbance Of the existing
al,ric Of society. For many years,
lnce Bismarck has had the control of
fairs, socialistlc tendencies have crept
nto the government, and it is unde-
liable that the premier has on more
han one occasion given evidence yf
is sympathy with regulating the
,ages of laborers and the accunlula-
on of wealth on philosophic and
principles. Although it may
e paradoxlcai, it is nevertheless true,
lat the great German statesman is
.ore sociaiistie in his predictions
ian autocratic. Uniting the differ
1t German states into one grand EN- d
ire, forced him in many instances {
oweyer much he felt disincGned-to h
,ercise arbitrary power; but rid the {
npire of the vengeful Frank on the s
~ hand md tho uraspino Russian nm