Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-09-17
True Propaganda Work.

4 ~
In every great upward movement
of the race there has been, and
probably always will be, two distinct
stages, which like everything else
that is nominally distinct and sepa-
rate have a certain connection and
blending together.
These two stages, the theoretical
and the practical, were never more
clearly exemplifed than in this pres
ent great movement, the monitions
of which will soon shake the social
and industrial world from center to
circumference, the movement to free
the race from the baneful, poisonous
and murderous effects of a compete
tive system, by substituting therefor
socialism or worldwide co-opera-
ton.
Theory necessarily must come first.
Starting on the mental plane it first
finds Judgment in a few of the most
receptive minds, who having but a
weak grasp of the principles involv-
ed can but imperfectly express them
selves, and straightway acquire the
appellation of cranks, freaks and
other pet names.
But truth crushed to earth will
rise again" The theory becomes
stronger and more widespread, and
efforts to put it into practice are
bound to supervene.
These at first prove abortive as a
matter of course, for every rational
person knows that in the launching
of new idea whether in the field of
mechanics, social problems or any
other, series of experiments
must precede success.
Shallow pated fools do not know this
fact, so chatter and grin like mon
keys over every seeming failure, and
then when success crowns the efforts
of the pioneer fall into line and
boastfully shout "We killed the bear"
He who clings to the theoretical
stage of movement too long and too
closely without at the same time Civ
ing the practical phase its proper
tionate share of attention, no matter
how radical the theory may be, be-
comes the very thing he despises: a
conservative: bar to progress and a
brake on it's wheels.
For he who cannot keep in line with
the unfolding of principle and the
advancement of movement becomes
to it clog, consciously or uncon-
sciously, as long as he is connected
Herewith.
Radical principles must, when the
proper time comes, be worked out
through radical methods.
True propaganda work is either
theoretical or practical, or both. as
the times demand. For years we have
had deluge of socialistic theorizing.
Systems have been built up on the
mental plane, governments estab-
Observation-Disclosures reservoirs
of argument, logic and reason have
been well nigh pumped dry in a sue
cessful effort to prove the truths of
cooperation and the fallacies of COM
petition. Books by the hundred have
been written containing the most un-
answerable arguments on that line,
and pictures painted of an ideal life
so much beyond the present and so
obviously attainable under just eco
nomic system as to nearly drive the
average wage slave insane ON reading
the same.
But what practical, material good
has been accomplished by all this
work, except that it has in slight
degree held plutocracy in check, the
continual agitation causing them to
concede point now and then when
things we're getting little too hot?
While we have been building seas
ties in the air" and carpeting them
with rainbows, Plutus has, without
much theorizing at all, gone straight
ahead and gobbled up the earth, and
is fast getting in position to crush
out all opposition.
If humans could live upon thought
alone and thus supply all their needs,
the present condition would be most
satisfactory one; for the atmosphere
is full of it. But unfortunately we
are of too material make. People
require sustenance of a more earthly
and substantial nature, and unless
CONTINUED ON THIRD PAGE.)