The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-09-04
SOCIALISM.
DISCUSSION OF ITS PRIN-
CIPLES.
How Far They Are Right-How Far
They Are Impracticable.-
Experience of the Ruskin
Colony.
TOM WATSON'S VIEWS. LET
THE DEBATE GO ON.
(From the Denver Road Populist.)

Vt
F'rom the Denver Road Populist)
We are continually pestered by lot
OF people who one week compliment
us for our socialist utterances" and
the next week roast us for departing
from our text.
One writer puts this question to US
direct: care you socialistic? Please
answer"
To this question we desire to reply
as follows: First, yes; second, no. In
theory we are socialist; in practice
we are doubtful.
We recognize this fact: Socialism
is the broad, generous ground on
which all humanity must some day
stand. 1t cannot stand on that
ground in moment, in a year, nor
perhaps in century. The reason it
cannot should be plain to everybody,
viz, reforms come slowly. The people
must be educated up to the condition.
Education alone can bring about pure
socialism. 1t cannot be forced upon
people. Christianity has been at work
1900 years trying to convert the world
to it's faith. Our intelligent readers
know what progress it has made. It
is not reasonable to suppose that So
cialiSm or any other radical change of
existing conditions can progress any
more rapidly than the idea Of Chris
tianity based upon religious fervor
had to excite in secular movements.
1t seems to us the best plan for social
lists to adopt universally is one that
has for it's immediate purpose the
public ownership Of all public utili-
ties. The destruction Of public cor
porations operated in the interest of
private individuals. The people are
ready for this change and it does not
now appear to thinkers as being a
very radical change, but on the other
hand a very sensible movement.
Let socialists drop the cooperation
colony ideas and concentrate their
energies on the question of public
ownership of railways, telegraph lines,
telephone service, city water works,
city transportation, city lighting, gov
ernment ownership Of irrigating
bitches, ETC., etc. Then let them turn
their attention to the government is
sue Of money without the interven-
tion Of banks, corporations, postal
banks, and the surrender of all lands
held for speculative purposes.
Socialism is right and should pre-
vail but it cannot exist until honest,
conscientious men exist and until the
hypnotic spell, the greed for gold, is
broken. 1t will take centuries to work
that spell off. The time will come
when honesty, merit, true worth,
genius, intelligence, and industry will
be worshipped and the usurer will
exist no more. The time will come
when people will not bow down to mon
ey alone. When that time comes social
lists will enjoy true civilization in a
realm uf sOcialism-in fact the mil
lenium will have arrived. Comment
ing on this subject Congress man Tom
L. Watson, of Georgia, with whom we
concur, says:
"Some time ago the New York
World published letter of mine in
which it appeared that was not So
cialist, and the Coming Nation was
one of the papers which did not relish
the letter. Brother Wayland kindly
passed the matter off, however, as "a
slip Of the pen on my part.
at was not a slip Of the pen. The
letter expressed my deliberate cOnvic-
tion.
Socialism is mere dream-noth-
ing more.
"If we had ideal men, dealing with
ideal conditions, there would be some
hope of working the socialist theories
into practical realities; but as long as
the average man is just what he is. So
cialism will be the fancy of the theor-
lists and the fairy-land Of dreamers.
Il believe that Democracy, as a liv-
ing principle, is the nearest approach
that can be made to the ideal of lib
erty, fraternity and equality,
Democracy, as a principle, demands
that all class distinction be leveled;
that no special privileges shall exist;
that no industry be favored at the ex-
penSe of another, that all shall have a
voice in the government, and that no
self-chosen few shall arrogate to
themselves all the powers and all the
benefits of governments: that no mon
opoly shall live; that trade shall be
free; taxes equal; justice prompt and
rigidly impartial; that the wealth of
nature and Of Industry shall remain
open to competi itiOn-nOt walled in by
clasS-laws; that the avenues OF social,
Industrial and political advancement
shall forever be kept open to merit
not closed up for the exclusive benefit
Of those who have heretofore sue
ceeded.
"This is the creed Of pure Democ-
racy-what more do you want to make
good government and a happy peo-
pie?
''By this creed each man. however
poor, has fair chance at the worlds
wealth, "the tools to him who can use
them''-"the spurs for those who can
win them:" such is the manly tone Of
Democracy. Those who are at the
bottom have a fair chance to 20 to
the top; those who are at the top can
only stay there by deserving to stay
there.
''Annul the laws which create mon
opoly, class privilege, special exemp-
tions, and you would have in this re-
public state of things in which each
man would reap as he sowed, acquire
as he produced.
democracy recognizes that the hui
man heart, as God saw fit to make it,
is selfish.
whats mine, l want'-that's the