The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-07-01

WE +: s.: 6: ! q; !:
its influence or it
arguments. 1t is one of the logical re
suits of our modern Institutions, unde
which the classes are gradually takin;
their places in the background, as of les
aha less account, while the masses ar
lcrglng 10 the front and making them
selves felt both in our literature and il
our politics.
The number of books on this subject j.
something astonishing. We happen t.
nave at our side this moment a list of a.
least hundred volumes, all of them
written by men Of note and solid reputa;
uon, and all of them filled with material
winch demands the most careful thought
a very large proportion of them are by
Germans, but the French are not far be-
hind, and the Americans and English
make a good showing. All of which proves
that the day when socialism could be
whistled down the wind has passed, and
that what it has to say to this generation
must be needed.
The last work of the kind which has
by Richard 7. Ely, Pm. D., LII. D.. Pro-
lessor of Political Economy in the Uni
Nerslty OF Wisconsin. 1t is very carefully
prepared, and after reading it with great
interest we feel inclined to heartily COM
mend II 10 those of our readers who would
ike 10 get an impartial scholars view on
ihlS tangled subject. 1t is from the pub
fishing house of Thomas Y. Growell & Co,
ard Is entitled Socialism; an Examina-
ton OF Its Nature, Its Strength and It's
NeakneSs with Suggestions for Local
Reform"
We are the more pleased with the book
because the author has no theory of his
own to advocate, but with rare judicial
discrimination criticiSes the new move
ment dlssecting it with marvellous skill.
pointing out not only its unanswerable
arguments, but showing the places AT
which il exhibits weakness He accents
the decision of DR.. Rudolph Meyer, of
Germany. that it is too late for that coun-
try to adopt the programme Of reform
then adds:
1T is not by any means too late for us
10 escape the situation in which Germany
nBds herself. However it may be in Ger
n'any, the policy of social reform is still
ways bear in mind the high ideals which
socialism has placed before the masses of
the people: and which they have absorbed
mind half way measures will not stem
tie tide of socialism.
What are the prospects of this reform
which can give US the benefits of peaceful
and uninterrupted progress? 1t is not al
together easy-in fact it is always diff
crlt-to forecast the future. There is
probably no country in which more vio-
!ent, bitter. and even unprincipled eX-
uemes may be found. We have, on the
one hand the anarchists of the DOOR who
aim 10 arouse bitterness and hatred, and
Who shrink from no exercise of force, pro-
Vided they think that thereby they can
accomplish their ends With them the
torch and the dynamite bomb are cues
lions of expectancy.
We have, on the other hand. a class of
men who advocate the claims of wealth
IN precisely the same spirit Every pro-
pcSal of reform is greeted by them with
fiulcule and misrepresentation; every adj
Nocate OF changes. even in accordance
with legal and constitutional means IS
Nllllned. These fanatics have precisely the
same spirit which animates the anarch-
lSts. They would not hesitate to use
force to maintain existing privileges. and
they syould rejoice to see anything like a.
SoclaIstlc reconstruction of society pre-
vented by t9rturing and putting to violent
ut alh me advocates of socialism. 1T is the
old spirit which has ever greeted the re-
lcrIner who has advocated changes in be-
-half OF the masses with the crv Cruelty
himi cruelty him. Most fortunately
there is between these two extreme fac
TONS; each of them apparently quite
small. a large class of fair-minded we'll
meaning men and women who are the
none OF the country. America has been
called the land of the almighty dollar
ana II has been supposed to be dominated
exclusively by a narrow nercantilism- VET
one frequently meets. among the business
leaders OF the country. with certain
Droadmlndedness which is as delightful as
il is reassuring."
This is perfectly fair view to take of
me condltlon OF affairs in this country,
ano we get the impression that Professor
Fly IS man whom we NAV confidently
r follow. When, therefore, ne proceeds to
give definition offs Ocialisnl we feel FRAT
he does # with considt rable autborit%.
suppose we let him speak for himself Of
3 them am elements of the reform He saws
n
trship Of the material Instruments of pro-I
duction. II is not stated precisely how
this common ownership is to be brought
ABOUT or exactly what form it is to take
opinions may and do differ a bout the
IFfcucat steps which are to be taken to
secure the desired end. and also about the
l9lure OF the collective organization in
winch this ownership is to be vested B,If
10 one can pe called socialist in the
1loqeTn technical sense who does not ac-
SSpl me docIrine OF the common owner
snip OF the material instruments of rro-
ducton- The COLLECTIVELY that is society
as whole. is TO take the place of indiVid
uals and private associat tons of incivid - =
ais as owners of land and capital in or
DER that the advantages of ownership
may accrue to the whole and not merely
to a part of the whole
The second element in socialism is the
common management Of production NOT
9hiN are the material instruments of pro
duction to be owned in common. but they
are to he managed by the COLLECTIVELY. in
order that TO the people as who'e may
&ceroe az the benefits of mana cement:
lhal Is, all those gains of enterprise calle1
profits as distinguished from interest. and
~ order that the management may be
conducted in accordance with the ni1h-ic
reed rather than in accordance with The
aaYantage of private ceptains of indus
When the professor refers to the statis-
Tics of socialism we confess to a deorea !
OF establishment. We are all ready to adj
lDlt that the number of its advocates hasI
S sSlly grown during the last twenty-five |
/
has assumed such proportions as to mako
user Ielt in nearly every nation. but the |
.-.ituai hgGres are somewhat startling Of |
rance, for, example, it is said that:
In 1883 eight socialistic candidates Stood |
Ior the legislature in eight Departments |
IN 1888 l4l candidates stood in fiftv-nina
deparrments. The socialists received ~ 19s
votes in 1880 and in 1893 they received 47S
1882 oS many as IN
Exact data concerning the rise and pro-
RreSs OF the movement in America are not |
es is,, at I, We only know that So
made itself felt both in the South and in
me West, and that its advocates are to
pc found in the governors chair. in civ
mans ma G,l N LEGISLATURES, and in the Congress
the figures can be obtained with a CON,
SIDERABLE degree Of exactness. Socialism
has had hard lot in that country. for
T., bismarck ill;a when in power saw the dangers
or what he thought to be dangers. which
y threatened. and used his utmost author-
lty to Keep il in check. but the following
eA hlbltS growth which must astonfsh
not only the man Of hood and iron ar
ter. Here it is: -'-' mas
Total Number