Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-05-18
Is It Socialism,

one written by Mr.. Frank B, Tracy
and published in the current number
OF the Forum, under the caption
4'Menacing Socialism in the Western
States"
In the beginning OF the article the
writer says: mo Intelligent man
''could sit in that audienc at the Coli
asenm building in the city Of Omaha
4'on July last, and listen to the wild
land frenzied assaults upon the ex-
'istng order OK things, without a
feeling of great alarm at the extent
"and intensity Of the social lanaey
"there displayed"
Among the reasons why people OBJ
iect to the term SOCIALISM" as used
by this writer, is the extremely care
less manner in which our language is
used. Indeed, such may be given as
the chief. il not the reason. 1t ought
not to be expected by even 80 proml-
nent writer as MIR. Tracy, that
people who are continually becoming
more and more critical, and able to
pass judgment, both on questions OF
political economy and the correctness
or incorrectness of a literary effusion,
will accept his most indiscriminate
use Of the term Socialist" without
protest.
Mr.. Tracy holds up the word in the
most prominent manner, as being con-
nected with almost all kinds Of law
lessness; especially as applied to "the
heresies," as he is pleased to term
them. Of the Populist party. One
finds 1t difficult to see the logic Of his
position, as we are compelled to view
it, measured by the words quoted
from bis production near the head Of
this article, and that other remark
able statement, viz: "The socialists
"'of the west may be divided into
4three classes. II They are
s,avowed paternalists and are not
"ashamed of their belief. y They
sare democrats, republicans or probi-
"bitionists, bnt consider that holding
'socialstlc dsctrines in no way con-
1sAicts with their party principles"
What is the logical conclusion to
whlcn we are driven by this langu-
age? Simply that the social lun-
acy" is not confined to the Populist
party. Ergo, there are social luna
tics" in the old parties, and many OF
them; for this same writer tells us
that IF the question Of government
Ownership Of railways were submit
ted to them today. the proposition
"would be carried by a handsome ma
''iority|
But there is another, and just &c
seneibIe conclusion, and that IS that
all those elements of right belong in
the same great class, and MIR. Tracy
seems to arrive at one tenable posi-
ton, at least, when, in speaking of
those named above, he uses this Ian
guage: And while many OF these
''men would demur if classed with
"the Pcpulists, the difference between
"them is simply IN degree and not IN
'lind. These Populists APP
"preciate the fact that they are few
steps in advance Of the others, that
they differ only in being more logi-
seal, and they believe that in very
"short time these others will cross
''the narrow boundary lines Gpd be-
"come Of their party and name
But, as this article started out as a
kind of protest against the writer's
use Of the term Socialism" in The
sense in which he seems to apply it,
it may be well to proceed to review
of that part of the article in which as
it seems to us the writer places him
self in the very awkward position Of
tying to ride two horses, each one
going 10 direeaon opposite to the
other.
We desire to draw the readers at,
tention to few of the contradictory
statements in the article IN question
In the first half he seems to deplore
the fact that the states have attemp
ted statutory prohibition OF the liquor
traffic; the resolution passed by the
Nebraska Legislature asking the Other
states to aid in constructinga railway
from North Dakota to the Gulf to b.
Owned and controlled by the stateI