The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-01
THINKS SOCIALISM RIGHT.
Rev. Joseph E. Scott Discusses
1t From an Ethical Point
of View.
HIS IDEA OF COMPETITION.
The DEVILS Method of Keeping
Mankind at Constant Strife,
He Calls 1t.

Rev. Joseph E. Scott discussed Socialism
at the Metropolitan Temple last night from
an ethical point of view. Mr.. Scott is a
stanch advocate of this theory OF political
economy.
He stated his subject in this way:
Socialism; Is it Right, or Is it Wrongs"
and at once proceeded to give his reasons
for believing it to be right. At the outset
he explained that mo attempt to change
the institutions OF a people can be success
full and abiding unless the fundamental
principles of the proposed change be
morally right"
In ages past, he said, men had endured
wrong often blindly and hopelessly under
the impression that it was part of nature,
or of the necessary order of things. AT
last, however, humanity has learned that
the source of al wrongs is simply mans
inhumanitv to man." and growing in
telligence and quickened moral sense are
making it more and more difficult TO hide
the real source of oppression. Con-
sequently there is a general discomfort
among the masses, and a strong desire to
alter institutions and adjust conditions.
Socialism" he defined as "an aim look
ing toward the permanent betterment of
social conditions, andits principles he said
were those of economic Righteousness.
He explained:
1t may be called system of society in which
labor and the products of labor are justly dis
tributed-or more briefly, "distributive JUS
tice." 1t is all the people sharing justly in
the burdens, opportunities and privileges OF
life 1t is each for all and all for each. 1t is CO.
operation in the chief productive Industries
combined with an equitable distribution of the
products of industry. 1t is the golden rule in
practical operation.
The meaning of the word fright was
then treated with some elaboration by the
speaker, and lie deduced from it all that
the need of some universally established
standard was plainly apparent. Christ's
law of love, in his opinion was the most
perfect standard of right known among
men.
incidentally he gave the railroads rub
in an evident allusion TO the Pullman
strike TO show how some universal stand
ard of right is recognized and how the
railroads try to divert public sympathy.
Said he:
When the railroads find it necessary to bring
the most powerful tactics known against their
striking employees they either goad the strik-
ers into overt acts of wrong, or burn their cars
themselves and charge such acts to the strikers.
He took stand against the individual
istic school of political thought. and con-
dependence of the members OF society
with popular idea that society ought to
be a loose aggregation of independent in
dividuals. And to argue the natural SYM
patty that exists between all the units of
society, and at the same time preclude any
idea of individual isolation, he remarked:
When the Colima goes down all humanity is
touched and sorrow runs through the land.
When in far distant Armenia great wrong is
perpetrated the civilized world shudders and
cries out in indignation and horror. No man
liyeth unto himself alone Socialism is right,
philosophically right, morally right in main
tanning the solidity of the race
Again, socialism is right in It's teachings as to
property. II holds that property, apart from
the common bouDties of nature, is the product
of labor, and that in all right and justice it be-
longs to the producers Apart from what
others in the past have done or whst others in
the present are doing, what property can one
man, by himself alone, produce? Socialism
economic truth that every item OF wealth and
capital is the product OF the thought and toll
OF ages: that capital as a product. is traceable
only to society, and, therefore, by right and
justice belongs to society.
Socialism is right because it would abolish
the iniquities of competition True emulation
is right. It's aim is excellence, in which the
gain is not by anotber's loss But competition
is the devils method of rerpetuaung and in
tensifying the meanest and most brutal ele-
ments in human nature.
Competition is the meanest method con-
ceivable by which rational beings could under
take to provide for themselves the necessities,
comforts and Injuries of lite. 1t is as wssteful
of energy, OF labor, of material productions
and OF life itself as q perpetual war, and lar
more demoralizing in its direct and incidental
effects than the mere conflict OF armies in battle.
1t is the element of discord which makes abso-
lutely impossible a state of peace on earth and
good will among men. 1t puts man against
his fellow-man i'll perpetual strife for bread.
1t fosters the cunning by which tyrants rule.
Tt breeds crime and its results are beggared
lives, blasted hopes and pauper graves. 1t is
the trick by which the sordid and the selfish
thrive and the generous and noble go down.
Socialism is right in seeking to overthrow this
monstrous madness.
Finally Mr.. Scott contended that social
ism is right because it would tend to elm
mate merely animal and essentially de-
grading incentives to effort and exalt mans
noble qualities, extending true democracy
and making the prize of liberty attainable