The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-07
ETHICAL SOCIALISM.
G C. Clemens Answers Railroad Com
missioner Campbell.

Railroad Commissioner Campbell a
few days ago was interviewed on so
cialiSm declaring his opposition to it.
Mr.. Campbell said:
Il am not a socialist as I under
stand socialism. Socialism, as I I'M
derstand it, means the community
tfal to the use of man in civilization. I
am opposed to this theory. 1t is i'm
practicable, in my judgment. It is a
Utopian view of life. I had a little ex-
perience along this line about % years
ago. 1t was when the Grange was in
full blast. A lot of US people conc1ud-
ed to establish cooperative store. AT
the end of three years we found that
all the capital stock had been exhaust
ed, and not only that, but the stock
holders in the concern We're in debt
several thousand dollars. 1 helped to
try it again, but on a smaller scale, at
a later date, with just exactly the
same result; and my observation has
led me to believe that nearly all CO.
operative institutions of this character
have led to similar results as those ex-
perienced by myself.
Human nature is such that people
will not put forth the same energy in
laboring for other people as they will
for self and family; and Just so long as
they retain that quality in their make
up will socialisms be a failure OF
course, if we were all like Christ, social
ism would be a success; but we are
not; and from all the evidence at my
command we are no nearer it than peO-
pie were when they crucified him.
'Bellamyism is a beautiful dream, but
only a dream. AS 1 said before, social
ism is Utopian view of life, and the
most that can be said for it is that it
may take place after the millennium,
when the world is populated with an
gels No, L am not socialist; only
plain, everyday Populist. I believe
there are some things the government
should own, and many other things it
should control, but am opposed to the
community ownership of all things es-
S6ntlal civilization
G. c. Clemens says that Mr.. Camp
bell does not know what socialism is,
if his interview is an indication of his
information on the subject.
Mr.. Clemens says:
Socialism is not a cooperative COM
Im!onwealth, but that which some be-
would bring about Socialism itself is
an ideal state of society: a conception
of how people should live and act. It
cannot be organized. 1t cannot he
compelled by any governmental ree11la-
tions. 1t is not thing of system 1t
is not an economic theory although a
new economic theory would result from
IT, Socialism In itself is wholly ethical
and will be an existing fact only when
the ethics of the world shall be in ac-
cord with the new life men must lead
kingdom of heaven hoped for by the
Jews, the millennium of the Christians
before Constantine were but older
names for the very same dream known
as socialism now; and it is still as true
as in Galilee-'the kingdom of heaven
is within you" Men confuse proposed
plans for inaugurating socialism with
socialism itself. A railroad company is
not railroad. An insurance company
is not insurance. Neither would a CO.
operative commonwealth be socialism
A cooperative commonwealth in short
is no more socialism than a hen-coop is
fried chicken. Your coop may keep your
poultry together till you can have fried
chicken. You see the point to the para
ble?"