The herald., 1897-02-05
SOCIALISM DEFENDED.


aid: Under the caption, Not At All
Alarming,"a writer in The Herald, in
recent issue, criticises Socialism.
He says: There is no religion in the
world that would countenance the prin-
ciples of Socialism" This is remark
able observation. This is the first time
l have come in contact with the stagger-
ing statement.
Socialism has received it's strongest
condemnation for the very reason that
1t is considered too sentimental, too
ideal, calling for the exercise of such
characteristics as are usually termed
religious and putting 1t beyond the pow
er of ordinary non-religiouS persons to
practice. Prof. Richard T. Ely, preach
er of Christianity and author Of half
dozen books on economics says that "the
whole aim and purpose of Socialism is
a closer union of social factors. The
present need is growth in that direction"
The Encyclopedia Britannica says: 1.-The
ethics of Socialism are identical with the
ethics of Christianity" The Standard
Dictionary says: Socialism is theory
of civil polity that aims at more equit-
able distribution of the products of la
bor." Rev. George D. Heron, professor
of applied Christianity at Grinnell col
lege in Iowa, saws that "the Sermon on
the Mount is Socialistic, political plat
form"
If Socialism is opposed to the practical
application of all fundamental religious
principles. The Herald writer certainly
deserves the distinction of having made
the wonderful discovery and first pro-
claimed it to the world. Aagain he says:
Business rivalry promotes struggles for
supremacy" which is true-supremacy
for the few at the expense of the many.
1t is a fact not well known that ones
business success, in competitive sys-
tenn, is always accompanied by the fail
ures of his competitors. This is a pro-
cess of eliminating factors in commerce,
or lessening the number of competitors
and narrowing the circle of those who
succeed. AS this process is progressive.
the end of civiliza tions based on that
principle may be confidently predicted
What is required is system of produc-
ton and distribution that is expansive
One that permits an indefinite increase
in the number of factors. Such a sys-
tenn is Socialism, where large number
of factors is a necessity.
That the competitive or wage system
of industry is approaching a collapse
no honest searcher after economic truth
now denies; the only question is what
shall supplant it. Individual competi-
ton is law of human progress only up
to a certain stage of evolution. When
ever machinery, association and combi-
successful individual effort.
Some kindergarten reformers say
abolish combination and monopoly, leg
islate them out of existence" A bootless
task. So high authority as President
Cleveland has recently said that the
trusts cannot be broken up by federal
legislation and recommends that the
several states undertake the job We
Socialists hold that no better results will
follow state efforts for the reason that
combines trusts and monopoles are but
the necessary and logical outgrowth of
system of private property in the
means of production. The doings of the
trust are only different from the doings
of the small trader, in the size Of the
operation, not at all different as to their
essential character. hence any law that
would effectually deal with monopoly
strikes blow at all business and such
law would of course be imperative.
The remedy for trusts lies in produc-
ton for the common good, by all the peo-
pie instead of production by the many
for the few who are growing fewer.
And let me ask what is there about
Socialism that is alarming? In the last
city election the people demanded COM
mon ownership of water, and won.
Water distributed to all at cost is Social
ism. Capitalism gets monopoly on a
water supply and charges the people
not cost, but just as much as ever they
can be made to pay. That's the differ
ence. / saw list of forty cities in this
country that have changed from private
to public ownership of some municipal
necessity and the saving Is from 80 to 300
per cent, and in no case has city owner
ship been abandoned after trial.
If Socialism is not eminently practical
capable of actually working out the
grand results for the people that we
claim for it, it does not deserve to be nor
will it ever be adopted. But although
there is plenty of room in the Socialist
philosophy for sentiment, it is by no
means built on that alone.
We successfully appeal to the miserly
and selfish to save money by voting for
the city ownership of water. In every
case of public management VS.. private
monopoly" verdict for plaintiff 1t is
manifestly better for the people that in
dustry be consciously and purposely
planned for the sole and immediate ben
fit of the whole people than if, left under
the control of a few unscrupulous ones
for their own advantage. All laws and
institutions that have really worked well
for humanity are Socialistic in charac-
ter, common schools, postoffices, courts
of justice, public roads, Lighthouses,
parks, etc, are all designed directly for
the general good and distinguished from
those undertakings that subserve pri-
vate ends. w. G. B. RANDOLPH.
Station D.
A ROAR AT THE COMMISSION.
To the Editor of the Los Angeles Her
aid: 1t seems to me that the commission
for the changing of street names is
usurping a great deal of power that does
not properly belong to it. / object most
to the wholesale, indiscrim-
mate, high-handed manner in which the
names of streets have been changed
without consulting the wishes of the
residents of said streets. To particular
ize: At the commissions session on
Tuesday the name of Peru street was
changed to Griffith avenue, which is