The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-07
COMING SOCIAL CHANGE.
Groniuud Predicts II Ere Many Years
-ParIor Meeting Tonight.

I6ftuE S1ESttNE AouASa
Laurence Gronlund. the celebrated So
ciaiise orator. iectured before the Refer
en6unn Club az the old Presbyterian
church. corner Of Third and Madison
streets last night on The Coming
Change"
There was a fair-sized crowd In attend
ance and the attention given the speaker
was marked. He spoke in that earnest,
convincing manner that has made MN
famous throughout the country. he Is
strong advocate OF civil service reform,
which he characteTizes as stepping stone
TO the socialist goal He is not an adyo-
cate OF the character Of socialism prevail
ent throughout Europe. which seeks 10
attain its end at bound. but on the con-
trary. believes in deliberate and conserva-
tive action. He said IN his discourse last
night that the course being pursued by
socialists IA Europe Is altogether too rash
and hasiy and IN his opinion Is working
injury TO the cause rather than good. and
hopes that such will not be the result in
this country, where so much good can be
done. He said, however. that the ques-
ton will be determined by the year 1900.
and he has fears that it will be done by
violence. In opening his lecturer Mr.
Groniund said:
i do fervently hope that within short
time / shall have two weii-adyertised
meetings in this city, In which i can dis
crss. first, the Trusts. and. secondly and
Tar more important, State Productive
Work for the Unemployed There is
change coming, profound change. and il
is coming soon. The trusts furnish the
best evidence Of it. / claim to be far
seeing and clear-seeing enough TO dis
Germ this change in Its outlines; ana any
one can do the same who is able pro-
foundly TO study the history of man and
PRESENT tendencies. During the last CEN
fury history was supposed to be a record
OF man 3 errors, now we know IL is a rec
ora OF mans orderly and regular evolu-
ton. What We must learn 10 find out is
the goal which evolution mas set for us,
and next the right steps that Will lead
TO IL.
There is no people that need to learn
TINS lesson more than We Americans Be-
cause we have been so successful as in
Ventors In the physical field. we think We
can invent also remedies against social
HIS 1t can not be done. Social remedies
cannot be invented. they must be discov-
cred. Free coinage OF silver Is such an
invention. The mistake is that society
is not structure or building at all; it
Is an organism, exactly like tree or
animal organism. Next. we must discov-
er the right steps. and I contend that
state productive work for the unemploy-
ed IS the first important STEP and that
this state OF Washington is the very bs 8.
place TO commence with ii. A solution
OF any pending problem that does not
reckon with the goal-even if backed by
million of bayonets-will be no solution;
IL must be a stepping stone 10 the goal
10 be of any value.
Socialists all over the world whether
atheistic or Christian socialists, agree as
to the goal, towit. industrial democracy,
but differ with others as to the means.
tail
with jump. / advocate only a peaceful
and gradual change. ANY one who will
stand with me on Prof. Ely's platform
the socialism of public utilities, is a god
enough socialist for me Just now. Public
utilities means teiegraphs, railroads,
street cars. etc. But TO socialization
should be advocated, or as much as lis
tened to. that does not include true
civil service If we can have the railroads
socialized with such civil service, and
our working classes see II in good work
ing order, l am confident that they are
so energetic that they will insist on hav-
ing the principle applied to all other liz
dustries. IL 10 this energy ! rely upon
when ! say that we may see collcctvism
adopted In our country in ten years from
now. But i do not suppose that II will
be adopted by party with the name So
cialistic. IL will be brought about as the
abolition of slavery was. Lincoln was
not nominated or elected by the abolition
lists. IT was the logic OF events that aboi-
ished slavery. So the third party that
will introduce socialism may, for all l
know be known as the National Party"
Mr.. Groniund will begin the first of a
series of parior lectures tonight at the
parlors of the Unitarian church. These
lectures he considers the most Important
of all his meetings, as they are produc-
tive of more good in the way. Of instruc-
ton. Questions are asked and answered.
and more attention paid 10 the details of
the teachings of socialism.