The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-25

Sir William Harcourt Favors a Thorough
Discussion of Socialistic Propositions.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON, Oct. A.-The Socialist congress
at Erfurt has had the result of bringing
Socialist politics to the front. and poll
ticans not only in England, but through.
out the continent, are eagerly discussing
the best means of making people better
satisfied with their station in life, and
thus lessening the field for the agitation and
wilder spirits of socialism. Sir VIM. Har-
court. one of the leading members of Par
lament. in speaking on the subject to-day
said: "lt is q matter of observation and
the subject of common remark that. apart
from special measures. great change has
come over the political position within the
past few years. The change may not be so
great imagined. but at any rate it
must be admitted that new class of ques-
tions is put in the front, and seem TO CON-
mand n preponderating share of popular
sympathy. The hours OF work, the ade-
quate remuneration of the workingmen.
the means of providing work for the
unemployed, the claims OF those who.
after using their utmost efforts, cannot
obtain work, are some OF the matters which
we are invited to discuss. and some regard
them as proper subjects for legislation.
Then there Is the wide subject of SANTA
tion of towns and dwellings, and work
shops The interests of agriculture in
former times were considered mainly with
reference to the landlord and she farmer.
These have almost disappeared, and the
laborer has risen in their stead. How Is
his condition to be improvedf How shall
he be enabled and persuaded to remain in
his native village, instead of migrating 10
the large towns and helping TO swell the
ranks of the unemployedi This IS one Of
the questions of the hour.
With respect to those social problems,
as they are called. which are coming to the
front and which some propose that we
should send TO Parliament for solution,
what shall be saidf In the first place, the
mere fact that they were sure to come mp and
that the consideration of them could not
possibly be avoided. should teach us
patience. In the next place, past expert
ence gives us abundant reasons for relying
upon the common sense OF our country
men, upon their appreciation of what
is practicable. and above all upon their
Unborn love of what Is fair and just.
The question which excites most apprehen-
sion is the demand for an eight-hour work.
ing day for oil trades, TO be imposed by the
authority of Parliament The expectations
of the advocates OF this measure may be
chimerical and many Will think they are
SO. but let the whole question be argued
until the elementary facts are made plain.
SO with Mr.. Tom Mann's proposal that
municipal workshops shall be furnished for
tho unempioy ed, and that persons engaged
in trades which give employment only for
six or eight months In a year shall be
maintained for the restl at the cost of
the country. Let ii be discussed. and let
ms see what fate IL meets with at the hands
of workingmen generally. 1t will proba-
bly, turn out TO be one of those radiant
bubbles to which Mr.. John Morley re-
ferred so pleasantly and indulgently In his
speech at Cambridge. Socialism may have
something to teach us. though there is but
little probability that Its principles will
meet with any wide acceptance. Socialism
is not nearly SO great n power as it was
fifty years ago. when Robert Owen started
o crusade"