New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-17
SOCIALISM RUN MAD.
,rrrMENS OF ITS WILD AND FRANTIC
NOTIONS.
.,x IT DE POSSIBLE THAT HUMAN BEING
EXIST WHO ENTERTAIN SUCH IDEAS?

=. the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Whenever opportunity permits read the
..,n articles of The Tribune and the letters of Mr.
uorr although do not often agree with Mr.. Horr.
,cosed find a cutting from his article in yester-
laws Weekly Tribune l do not agree with him
a, the advice there given. II such advice fol-
,oxed the wages of labor would slowly. 1t may be.
mt surely and certainly fall to the lowest point
,ossible for a scanty subsistence. and that only
ar those who can find work What advice or con-
,,la,ion has Mr. Horr offer those for whom
nere is work. and who have opportunity 10
,arn living, but must go on starving in the
r,st Of abundance? / admire Mr.. Horr for his
aggressive courage. Now. can he dare TO face the
,,ohlem of what is TO be done with those who
eannot ind employment even in good times. and
trom whose ranks the criminal army is recruited?
nclose a pamphlet OF mine and commend 1t to his
careful perusal. 1t is opinion that the present
gar will be ultimately fought the lines indi-
Gated IN the pamphlet. Mr. Horn is too good a man
"a fri,;er away time butting his head against a
stone wall. Does he not that the day OF indi-
v,sual production is past? So also is the day Of
partnerships and corporations The trust and synd-
cate now control business The next and final step
will be the collective ownership by the whole >peo-
ME- Yours with respect, ADAM RAMAub.
Holyoke, Mass, Aug %, 1894
The pamphlet which came with the letter is
also published over the name of Mr. Ramage
7, contains plea for what h is pleased TO call
theory is based upon statement of facts. hardly
one Of which is true. I have not space TO admit
his pamphlet in full. Following number of
its statements:
The present system Of social economy not only
fails 10 give rights 10 the people but throws every
nosslble impeachment in the way OF people who are
willing and anxious work TO earn living and 10
educate their children.
The present plan is wasteful and extravagant
in ffs
practice.
Under il.
1t is rendered impossible for any to earn an
honest living.
II is pauperizing the people with It's so-called
charitable institutions doing out scanty portions of
coup and bread. where II should give WORK ana
abundan: subsistence
II has driven true religion from the land.
Under this system legislatures Nationa.. S'a'e
and municipal. have become corrupt. and they make
only such avs as are favorable 10 the wealthy anu
detrimental 10 the poor.
The courts are no longer courts OF justice ou'
have become instruments Of tyranny and oppres-
sion. controlled by the rich and manipulated oy
them for the subsection of the people who work
The courts OF law subjects Of contempt
among the people. much so that II the guilty
were punished there would be none left TO inhict
punishment.
The law-making and Notwithstanding authori-
ties are combined together in favor OF the rich
against thu poor
now invite Mr.. Ramage, and those who be-
Neve as he does. 10 moments examination OF
the propositions upon which he bases his TRADE
against our present civilization. His first as
sertion that 'the present system throws
every possible impeachment in the way Of people
who are willing and anxious 10 earn living and
10 educate their children Is false In every par
ticular The struggle Of civilization for the last
1000 years has been constantly lettering the con-
dition of the people who live by effort. and the
EDUCATION Of the people at least In the United
States Is entirely looked after and paid Tor by
the people who own the property OF this coun-
try. cannot see how any can make such
a statement as his and himself be honest There
can be no excuse fer publishing such base
fabrication.
He tells us that the present system Is not
on,v wrong. but that under it no one can earn
n living honestly" Can i. be possible that any
human being here ir the United States can bf
So blinded as to think there is any truth IN suct
a statement? The great amy OF laDorers aho
of business men in the United States are getting
their living honestly. They give their services
for a compensation agreed upon. or one whicf
covers the cost of living and small percentage
over so that every one can save htte loI inc
"rainy DAYS" They are. as a rule. dealing up
rightly and honestly with their felowmen Ihere
are no doubt, some cruel men. There are nc
doubt. too many scoundrels in the world, ani
even In this country; but when you come &c
number them accurately. here In the Chi'ec
c,a,es at least they are but handful as com
pared with those who deal fairly ana uprghtly
What a shame for a man TO denounce az ccoun
drels the entire business men OF this or any
other nation!
leo
charitable institutions Of the country. which are
hru, and sunported by the phianthropists
When a man becomes so dead to the best sur
,ourdinos Of life as thus to denounce the kind
est most charitable and upon the whole th'
hest neonIe upon the face Of the earth. he rnaheS
NJ himself a strange spectacle. He states 10 III
"That II has driven true religion from the lahu'
Why does he say that? Think OF the eso''s"
II requires for man to publish such d 7'
ment There is as much genuine rehsioh J." '','
United States as can be found among 'he peOp,'
Of any nation upon the earth. IL iequ'
for man 10 assume that all people WIN ~
not agree with him are hypocritcs ana fha'i'e
As a rule when one finds person III s"0'
state Of mind that he can see no goou J." any
body except himself. such man Is "oi'"' "
very little consideration. state poI'' ~
the chances are that such a man mas "e'' 49,
pure religion nor any genuine io'' Vi
In his own heart. -
His next statement is that uhuer '"'' -
tenn leeisIatures National, State and muh'ci
pal. have become corrupt. and they make o'i's
such laws as are favorable to the wealthy
Both Of these statements are absolutely 1aise
There are some corrupt men in our Na''ona,
State and municipal legislatures; but the vas
majority Of them are absolutely honest o." ~,
they usually work carefully and sincerely |
the good of the people. Neither Is IL true '.,a
they pass laws only for the advantage oi ~
nch The statutes of the country are D"
laws which have been passed expressly TOT '"'