Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-06-26
WHAT Is SOCIALISM !
Authoritative Definitions of the Word
'SOcialism."

of Socialism are identical with the ethics O
Christianity
.WEBsTER's DICTIONARY: ga theory O
society which advocates more precise
orderly and harmonious arrangement of thu
social relations of mankind than that which
has hitherto prevailed"
STANDARD DICTIONARY: ga theory o.
civil polity that aims to secure the recon
struction of society, increase of wealth,
and more equal distribution of the prod
ucts Of labor through the public collective
ownership of land and capital las distin.
guished from property and the public col
lective management Of all industries. 1t:
motto is: Everyone according to his
deeds. -
CENTURY DICTIONARY: Amy theory OF
system of social organization which would
abolish entirely or in great part the indi-
vidual effort and competition on which
modern society rests, and substitute for it
cooperation, would introduce a more per-
feet and equal distribution of the products
of labor, and would make land and capital,
as the instruments of production, the joint
possession of the members of the commu-
nity.''
When you find man who is a Socialist
you will almost certainly find man who
has carefully studied the subject and knows
just what Socialism is. 1t is also a re-
markable fact that the rule works both
ways. When you find a man who has care
fully studied the subject and knows just
what Socialism is, you will almost certain
ly find a man who is Socialist.
The great mass Of people have no definite
idea Of what Socialism is; and nearly every
bitter opponent of Socialism has a miscon-
ception of its teachings.
| For the benefit of these sincere but Off
the track brothers, / wish to mention a
few of the things that Socialists do not be-
leve and also few of the things they do
believe.
Socialists DO not believe that all the prop
erty in the world should be confiscated and
divided up among all the people, whether
they helped to earn it or not; hey do not
believe that the possession Of property is a
crime; they do not believe that any man
should be prevented from possessing more
property than another; they do not believe
that all men are intellectually, morally or
socially equal; they do not believe that all
men should be compelled to work the same
number of hours per day and receive the
same compensation regardless Of whether
they are competent or not-industrious or
lazy; they do not believe that man hay
ing talent-genius, if you like-should be
given no opportunity for its development;
they do not believe that all men should be
held down to one common level
They do believe that humanity has de-
scended from common source; that the
same red blood flows in the veins Of every
one; that all move and haye their being
under the same divine law; that all breathe
the same air and draw their sustenance
Natures forces; and that this solidarity
this brotherhood-of the human race gives
to everyone born into the world an inalien-
able birthright-the right to live!
Therefore Socialists believe that every
man who desires to labor and produce the
wherewithal he may feed and clothe and
warm himself and those dependent upon
him, should have the opportunity to do so.
Socialists recognize the fact that every
one is consumer, and therefore they be-
lieve that everyone who is physically and
mentally able should be producer, or,
more strictly speaking, worker-one who
performs some necessary OF useful service.
They believe that no man should be per-
mtted to live in idleness by levying a tax
a tribute, a proft-call it by what name
you like-upon the labor Of his fellowman
They would abolish the idler at both ends |
of the social scale. The tramp and the
dude would alike be compelled to 60 to
work and produce as much as they con-
sumo.
All industrial labor being in the produc-
ton of articles Of value and distributing
the same to the customers, socialists be-
distributing should be performed by the
Government-that lis, by the people, col
lectively. And they maintain that by this
systematic CO. cooperation, but a few hours
labor would be required from each person
per day.
Socialists believe in great combine
not combine of a few large manufacturers
to make a big profit from the sale Of their
goods to the consumers-but combine of
all the people to produce and distribute
goods to all the people at cost.
Socialists believe in cooperation, and
that too, upon a national scale. They do
not believe in competition-in each man
and struggling to get the best of
his neighbors-whi under our present
system is unavoidable. In the CO. oper-
alive commonwealth fierce competition
would give place to friendly emulation.
They believe that the largest and best
results can be secured by the individuals Of
a nation working collectively, not against
each other; pulling together, not in oppo-
site directions.
They believe that all men should obey
God s commandment: ''In the sweat Of
thy brow shalt thou eat bread.''
HERMAN g. COOKE.
San Diego, Cal.