The Advocate and news., 1898-01-12
An Appeal to Kansas Socialists.
BY G. c. CLEMENS.

rica. They must obey New York or
theirs not to reason why"
l am not willing 10 make myself such
serVile nonentity-even though the
superiors who are to dictate my un-
questioning conduct be socialists No
matter If 1t have but FIVE local branches
OF five members each, a State will have
an equal voice with every other State In
the councils of the Social Democracy;
and If Western men do not control it's
destinies It will be their own fault. It's
headquarters are now In a Western city
and are likely to remain there. Its Of
ficers are Western men and the West
is sure Of always being fully represented
on the national board. It's whole spirit
is Western.-broad and aggressive But
now let us look at some other facts.
said that there is a conspicuous diff
ference between the principles Of the
Social Democracy and the platform of
the Socialistic Labor party. The latter
makes socialism distinctly class move
ment, while the Social Democracy makes
it movement for the achievement Of
happiness Of mankind. When we con-
slider that the socialism Of to-day had as
its pioneers a Marx and a Lassalle-
men not at all of the working class
and that its literature is so largely
from the pens Of men not Of the work
ing class, the utter unreasonableness
Of treating 1t ais class movement is at
once apparent. Who to-day are the
leaders Of the movement in France, in
England, in Germany? Who does not
know the martyrdom that was endured
in order to awaken workingmen and was
necessary to that end? Socialism is not
a class movement, although the suffering
Of the working class gave rise to 1t in the
minds and hearts Of other men. l de-
nounce this impeachment of the men
and women who have lain in dungeons
and endured exile for socialism; this
assumption that only workingmen can
be relied upon to be magnanimous and
heroic in defense of the working class.
The palace is often as ready as the
hovel to revolt against existing social
conditions All around me are lawyers
and others who are as eager for So
cialism as are any workingmen on earth.
We need their assistance. We have no
right to ostraciZe such men. The Social
Democracy welcomes them. 1t says,
"'This is also your movement; come fol-
low us and be of u.s." 1t dares use the
cream Of socialist literature; not throw
ing aside any because the author was
mot of our Set" 1t believes that whose
is not against us Is for us" and IL he
be coming our way, but be not yet an
adept, we do not drive him back, as
does the national organ of the S. L. P.
We encourage him, guide his steps, and
IN Voolyo him f1I11u a socialist
Again, the Social Democracy has
chosen as its motto, which 1t carries at
the head of it's official organ, ION earth,
peace; good will toward men," Social
lists have the exclusive right to that
motto. It proclaims their origin. Christ
was the founder Of socialism and So
cialists are his only followers to-day
The motto proclaims us socialists, not
of the head alone, but Of the heart, too
And as, although in haste to reach Je-
rusalem, Christ refused to be deaf to the
cry of poor, blind Bartemus by the
roadside, so the Social Democracy, while
seeking to establish the cooperative
commonwealth refuses to leave un-
needed the cry Of present misery. by
co-operatiye colonies and otherwise 1t
proposes to relieve existing distress OF
the people, many Of whom must other
wise expire in misery long before there
can be any cooperative commonwealth.
Add to all this the facts that the So
cial Democracy is new and has no mis-
takes to account for; that it has not an
tagonized organized labor; and that
while after nearly twenty years Of exist
ence the s. l.. P. was unknown until re-
Gently outside OF few Eastern States
and was able to poll but $1,000 votes In
the entire country in 1892, the Social
Democracy, only six months old, has
its local branches in majority OF the
States. Again add the fact that the
Social Democracy has its missionaries
Constantly in the field, it's President be-
| - ~ nriuoiral missionary while one