Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1891-03-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
An Open Letter.
To the Editor of the Christian Union:
NEW YORK. March 4, 1891.


SIR:-l have received the sample copy
Of your esteemed publication dated
february 10, which you had the kind
ness to send to me. In it, under the
heading, Socialism" is an article which
starts with this assertion:
Socialists are all agreed in one propo-
stlOn-that the present social order is
one of disorder and must be reformed;
ond they are agreed in nothing else"
Whether in this country or in Europe;
whether in this State, where at the last
elections the Socialists polled $4,000
votes, or in California, where they pollnd
in the 9th Congressional District some
1000 votes, or in any of the other States
of the Union where they have extensive
organization whether in Australia,
where their movement reaches far and
goes deep: whether in France, England,
Switzerland or Italy, where they have
elected a number of officers, or in Ger
many, where they have come out al the
top of the polls, the most powerful party
of all, million and half strong; in
fact, throughout civilization, the Social.
lists are found in large, organized and
aggressive bodies, standing upon full
platform, and agreed, not only on mega
tive, but also on positive, not only on
destructive but on constructive prin-
ciples. Nor can ignorance of their
| declarations be excused upon the ground
of secresy on their part. They cannot
be charged with hiding their candle
under a bushel. Their literature is ex
tensive and in all languages; their pub
| nc meetings are numerous; their Jour
nails are among the Iiveliest in the labor
movement; and above all, their plat
forms and official utterances are ex.
| plCit and spread broadcast throughout
this and all other countries. A little
time devoted to gathering information
on the topic would show, even to the
purblir d, the fullest agreement among
| them. From the Nistula westward and
northward throughout Europe, across
the Atlantic from east to west in the
| United States, and across the Pacific in
| Australia, the official declarations of
Socialists show them to be one not only
in the view that 1.-The present order is
one of disorder and must be reformed,
but also in the methods of reform: indie
pendent political action and complete
emancipation from the ruling political
| parties, these being inherently reaction
airy and corrupt; and lastly also in the
ultimate end to be attained: the substi-
tuition of the collective ownership by the
people Of the land and all other means
of production and distribution in lieu of
individual ownership thereof, which
they have conclusively proven means
wealth for the few and want for the
mass. In this country, for instance, they
point to the post. Otfice-as yet it is true,
a very imperfect example of collective
ownershlp-as an approximate illustra-
ton of what they aim at and of what
they mean by collective ownership and
control of capital by the people for pub
lie benefit instead of for private profit.
True, here and there are to be found
individual instances of people styling
|
agreed either among themselves or with
the large body of organized Socialists
There is no patent on the name; it is not
trade mark; cranks and crooks car
assume it. But | cannot conceive OF
any one, careful of the Technology he
uses conserving to call such exceptional
isolated persons by that name, and then
to generalize from such exceptional
premises,
In view of this would request you tC
point out in what respect the organized
Socialists, 4. e., the bulk of Socialists. in
any one country, or throughout the
world for that matter, are less agreed
among themselves than the Republican
\ or Democratic party in this county;
the Tory, Wig, Liberal or ParnelI party
in Great Britain; or any Of the other
numerous parties into which the plu
tocracy is divided and organized. An
inquiry into this would, on the contrary
reveal the fact that, as it is natural it
should be with a declining social system,
especially one reared upon the principle
of Every mans hand against every one
else the political parties or other
organizations of plutocracy are hope.
lessly rent with internal dissensons.
while the body of Socialists presents a
spectacle of unity and compactness,
oneness of purpose and of ection, that
may well arouse the envy of their adver-
sarles.
In conclusion would say it seems to
me the reading public are justified in
the eXpeCtati' II that the blue pencil, in
the editorial rooms of a publication of
the standing yours claims to enjoy,
should stand between them and such
baSeless, misleading assertions as the one
have criticized Respectfully.
ID. DELEON.
TruSfS-Tha RamndY