The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-05
Without Being a Socialist, Says
Judge John Martin.
Some Close Reasoning on the
Subject of Socialism
By the Well Known Topeka Jurist-
Judge Martin Says It is Impos-
sibIe to r each the Ideal

Christianity. In fact Mr.. Martin be-
lieves that the similarity is so great and
the comparison so exact that persons
who follow the principles and teachings
of orthodox Christianity cannot sue
cessfully controvert the theories of So
cialism-
Mr.. Martin does not believe the ideal
socialism will ever be achieved in this
country. He says: 1T will never
come because men are too avaricious
and greedy. This is a condition which,
in my opinion, will never be removed
and principle of humanitarianism will
never be put into practice.
SPeople denounce socialism nowadays
for the same reasons which when
was a boy, led them to reflect upon a
man by calling him an abolitionist-
simply because of popular prejudice.
This prejudice exists in the minds of
many regardless of the true theories of
socialism. As a matter of fact the
world is full of socialistic communities.
1t is indeed hard to find a place where
intellectually and morality prevail that
is not socialistic.
Every man who believes in the pub
lie ownership of any kind of railroads,
street railways, light, heat, power and
water plans for public use in cities, is
a type of the socialist. When you come
right down to the proposition and strip
it of all false notions it is pretty diff
cult to resist general socialistic tenden-
cies and it is still more difficult for
man who believes in orthodox Christi
anity to resist socialistic conclusions.
If it be true that God made man
and that man is responsible to God for
his conduct in this world and if it be
further true that all men are created
free and equal so far as the enjoyment
of life. liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness is concerned and that the world
this earth-was created for the spec
ial benefit and use of mankind it is we'll
nigh impossible to logically dispute
and overthrow much of what is termed
socialistic doctrines.
In the creation of men God hasn't
distributed them into classes and as
signed to them certain privileges and
advantages in the enjoyment of the
world. Nor has He excluded others
from the same benefits. Every man,
woman and child has a natural and in
alienable right to the enjoyment of life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
others If he be clothed with this right
and privilege by virtue Of his creation
it logically follows that he is entitled to
such a part and portion of the earth
and of everything that constitutes a
part of the earth may be necessary
to enable him to enjoy his natural
rights.
In the Divine economy don't think
it is lawful or morally right to exclude
any man or class of men from the full
enjoyment of light and heat or the
means necessary and proper for the
support of himself and those dependent
upon him.
or class of men, should monopolize the
surface of the earth TO the exclusion of
others. So it is with the highways of
the world, the seas, rivers and lakes.
These are the common property of
mankind, and upon the same principle
the gold and silver, the coal and the iron
and all other minerals stored in the
bowels of the earth were intended for
the precise purposes for which they are
being used. and God never intended
that any man or set of men should have
a n a lpi of
life, necessary TO human existence, to
the exclusion of all others.
IF it be true that God created man
and that he created the earth for the
habitation and use of man, then ii
logically follows that it is the common
property of mankind, and, morally
speaking, the only right he has to the
earth or to any of the agencies or in
strumentaIitjes necessary to the pro-
lection of life and liberty or the pro-
lection of happiness is a usufructuary
right. That a few men may combine
and create a monopoly in the use of the
surface of the earth or the instrument
talities that are necessary to the con-
servatiOn of human life and action is
not in harmony with the idea that men
are the children of God and therefore
equals, and that the earth is the COM
mon heritage designed especially for
their use and benefit.
IF a monopoly of the soil of the earth
be morally wrons,a monopoly of the ma
terial elements of the earth or any part
of them, such as coal, iron, air, light
and heat, is equally more inconsistent
with the divine economy and is mani
testify wrong.
Amy man who conten1plates the sub
ject in a broad and fair-minded man
ner must reach these conclusions. The
ideal conditions will never be reached
because of the avarice and greed of
man. We will never ascend to the
plane upon which the broad principle
of huuanitsrianisrn will be established.
But because we do not hope to reach
the ideal condition is not a good reason
why every man, woman and child in
this country should not do their level
best to bring il about
1T was not meant that man should
live alone. Men who imagine they are
moving in the divine orbit are likely to
find themselves mistaken We cannot
Justify human government on any other
theory than that il is to promote the
happiness and welfare of man. If
governments do not do this, then we
should not have them. Socialism does
not mean community of common
property and common interests. The
conditions of socialism could exist and
the condition of individual rights and
individual property remain the same.
Il does not mean that man should have
nothing of his own or that everything
should be held in common
Socialism applies only to public in
situations Our postoffices represent
a theory of socialism. as do all other
public utilities Why, the tariff bill
passed by the last congress is made up
on the theory of socia ism If what is
claimed for the bill by the Republicans
were true it would represent an ideal
socialistic principle. They assert that
the tariff means benefits to the people |
all the people: the manufacturer and
the workingman alike. The theory is
correct, but unfortunately it does not
work out in the manner anticipated.
Many other things with which we
are Intimately associated every day
contain sociaIistic ideas, and no man
can successfully dispute the fact that
Justice and right are to be found in every
idea advanced by the supporters Of the
theory
Infanmation Of the Bowels. that dan