Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-08-27
LIVE QUESTIONS.
A SERIES Of Articles Contributed by
Advanced Thinkers.
SOCIALISM,

participation of all In the benefits of combined
labor.
This statement was made by John
Stuart Mill in his autobiographical &C.
count of the later studies and conclu-
sions of himself and his wife. He said
these conclusions went far beyond what
is usually called democracy and would
be classed under the general name of
socialism.
This term is not easy to define. except
as q principle. 1t is derived from the
Latin word socius, companion. 1t
came into use, or was coined, in the
year 1885, but did not displace the term
communism" for long time, and has
never properly meant the same thing.
The term socialism" is capable of in
| definite expansion, as the idea of human
fellowship evolves. Keeping the root
meaning in mind. it is obvious that
nothing which partakes Of tyranny or
injustice can properly be called social
ism, and that the paternalism of Estate"
socialism is Of a spurious kind.
Those who seek to define socialism by
a study of its historical experiments
make some mistakes, not distinguishing
the transient from the permanent; but
they find that socialism aims to increase
the production and equalize the distri-
button of wealth, by substituting public
management of industry and commerce
In the common interest for private
management with personal gain as the
motive. Mr.. Mallock, who is one of the
strongest literary supporters of the pres
ent system of industry, declares that
nothing is Essential socialism" (an in
come tax, for instance) which does not
interfere with the flowing of rent, profits
and interest into private pockets in the
first place, and that whatever claims
either or all three of these sources of in
come as belonging rightfully to the
public is essentially socialistio.
Mr.. Kidd, who, in Social Evolu-
tion," opposes socialism as the great
enemy of progress, defines it as system
in which the individual struggle for
existence" is suspended and natural
selection" (or the crowding out of the
weaker members of society by the stron-
ger ones) has no chance to work for the
progress of the species"
But this does not apply to anything
but communism, as socialists usually
insist on the universal application of
the Scriptural law that every able per-
son must earn his living. They say that
the creed Of communism is, ito every
one according to his need" of social
ism, Ito every one according to his
deed" of individualism, "to every one
according to his greed"
The ideal of socialism is modified in
each country where it is found by the
national character, social condition and
government, but everywhere the ideal
is undergoing changes as intelligence
increases. The Fabian Essays" give the
best English conception, but it is mere
| ly tentative. The introduction to the
Essays" declares: There are at present
no authoritative teachers of socialism
The essayists make no claim to be more
than communicative learners. In its
official programme the Fabian society
says of itself: 1T aims at the reorgan-
ization Of society by the emancipation
of land and industrial capital from in
dividual and class ownership and the
vesting of them in the community for
the general benefit. In this way only
can the natural and acquired advan-
tages OF the country be equitably shared
by the whole people. The society nc
cordingly works for the extinction of
private property in land and of the
consequent individual appropriation, in
the form of rent, of the price paid for
permission to use the earth, as we'll as
for the advantages Of superior soils and
sites. The society further works for the
transfer to the community of the ad-
ministration of such industrial capital
as can be managed socially, for, owing
to the monopoly of the means of pro-
duction in the past, industrial inven.
tions and the transformation Of surplus
income into capital have mainly en-
riched the proprietary class, the work
ers being now dependent on that class
for leave to earn living" The "Fa-
bian Essays" were published in De-
cember, 1880.
In the preceding year Looking Back
ward" was published and gave the start
to the distinctively American ideal of
socialism, called nationalism. Its essen
tial principles are industrial co-opera-
tion on national scale and economic
equality. The possibility as we'll us the
simplicity and economy of national Or
ganization is shown by the great trusts
and monopolies which restrictive legis-
lation seems powerless to prevent. The
constant tendency is to still closer
combination in one great plutocratic
oligarchy, with the people at their mercy.
unless the people take their own bust
ness into their own hands for the "equal
participation of all in the benefits of
combined labor" That is what nation
alism means-the ideal Of Mill.
The electrician Tesla prophesies
that the labor of the future is to bo
mainly touching electric buttons" "
and statistics show that already, if the
great powers and best inventions were
applied to cooperative agriculture and
mechanics, with all industries co-ordi-
mated, the whole work of nation could