The record-union., 1898-03-02

language which has come into frequent
use in modern times conveys so many
different meanings to different minds as
does the word socialism. When it is real
lied that even among it's advocates there
is marked divergence of opinion as to
what is true socialism, it is easy to
understand the confusion which must
exist in the minds of the great mass
whose knowledge concerning socialism
comes from the hasty reading of maya
zine or newspaper articles, or from occa-
sional pulpit or platform utterances, or
from disjointed and disconnected discus
sions on the subject by ill-informed de-
baters. To some the words anarchism,
socialism, communism and nationalisn.
convey the same meaning. To some a
socialist means red-handed bomb
thrower. To others a socialist means
one who advocates dividing up every
Saturday night. To some it means the
equal division of the fruits of unequal
effort and Of unequal ability. And to
others it means the complete sacrifice Of
indiyiduallsm for a tyrannic and des-
potic collectivism.
We find even so high an authority as
Webster giving the words Socialism
and COMMUNISM" a synonymous mean
ing; when. in fact, the true meanings
of these words differ widely. In order,
therefore, that there may be as little
room as possible for misunderstanding,
let US briefly outline the writer's concep-
ton Of the meanings of the various isms
referred to:
An anarchist, as the essayist under
stands it, is one who believes all Gov
IF fcN ri orc
less, unnecessary and clog to true
progress. The anarchist has such pro-
found faith in his power of self-govern-
ment that he believes each individual
quite capable of governing himself. He
therefore advocates the abolition of all
goyernment-by peaceful measures, if
possible, by force. if ecessary-however
brutal the use of force may prove.
a communist is one who believes that
there should be an absolute social and
economic equality; that all products OF
labor should be equally divided among
all members of society.
a nationalist is practically a commun-
list, with the difference that the national
list would centralize all power in the gov
eminent itself, and, in substance, advo-
Gates the organization of society upon
basis not unlike that which prevails in
the army and navy. excepting as to
compensation, which he would make alb
solutely equal. regardless of the char
acter of the service rendered.
Owing to the different phases of So
cialism advocated in different countries
it is not so easy to describe a socialist
with the same degree of accurateness.
To remedy existing social and political
evils different methods are advocated
by socialists in different countries for
the division of the results of produc-
ton. This much however, all social
it's advocate in common: That the
State shah be substituted for the pri-
vate employer, and that there shall be
equal opportunities for ALL"
In the beginning, socialism. doubtless,
was more or less tinged with all the
other isms referred TO. There was a
time in the history of the movement
when the socialist was more or less OF
a composite of the anarchist, the COM
munist and what will herein be described
as the socialist. In the past he was a
radical of radicals and an extremist in
the fullest sense; not infrequentiy going
so far as to advocate force, regardless
of consequences, IN order that the doc
trines Of socialism might prevail.
The radical socialist of yesterday has
however. become the conservative of to-
day AS an extremist and a fearless
radical, he served the great purpose OF
bringing out in the most effective way
existing political and social evils. So
successfully did he do this that he en-
listed in his cause much Of the intellect
and the moral power Of the century, I'M
til to-day we find enrolled under the
banner of socialism some of the great
est moral and intellectual minds of the
age. The list OF socialists IN England
for example, is a startling one There
as stated by William Clarke in his ia
bian Essay" socialism embraces within
its membership such names as Walter
Granite, the artist: Stopford Brooke, the
preacher and man OF letters: Grant
Allen. one Of the most versatile and ac-
complished men living; George Bernard
Shaw. one of the most brilliant music
and dramatic critics. Miss Willard, one
of Americas women reformers; Pro
fessor Shuttleworth. now Lohdon's most
popular and able Broad Church clergy
man; ID. C. Ritchie Of Oxford, foremost
among Fnglands philosophie thinkers;
Mrs Theodore Wright. one Of England
most powerful actresses; Sergius Step
MAX. next to Tolstoi. the first Of living
Russians. Alfred Haze. one OF the first
Of Enehnd's younger poets; Or. Furni-
bal. most learned and active of old Eng
lish scholars. and others"
The enlisting of such men and womer
I'm the cause Of socialism has led TO its
development upon a higher and more
conservative plane, until to-day rs doe
trine has become one Of progress b.
peaceful measures only: progress by ths
use of the ballot, not the bullet; progress.
by means of intellectual developments
and the spreading of knowledge. The
socialist who would dare advocate force
would be promptly repudiated and ex-
PEELED from any and all respectable so
cialistic organizations. And so socialism
in its present accepted sense. has more
and more commanded for itself the re
speet of the best minds in all civilized
lands
AS previously explained. it i:
not so easy to describe the so
cialist because Of varying conditions IL
various countries The socialist o.
Germany, for example. is striving
for many things which the people II
England and IN the United States al
ready enjoy: the socialist in EnClant
seeks TO remedy evils which in Ger
many. for instance. do not exist; TIT
socialist of France. again, shows a ten
dency to be more intensely revolution
airy than the socialists Of other coun
tries. and while advocating peaceful
measures. is inclined to the opinion
that the ends desired can be obtained