The Advocate and news., 1898-03-09
TIE SOCIALISM OF TODAY.

THE SOCAALIBm OF AO-DAAa
The growing tendency to discuss the
question as to the need of amendment to
the federal constitution Is indicative Of
a drift in public affairs. The subject is
beginning to receive serious attention
from the magazine writer's, and they
seem to agree that our national constitu-
ton Is in need of at least a slight over
hauling and repairing. Professor Gold
win Smith is the latest writer OF note to
lend his voice to the discussion. Under
the caption, 'Is the Constitution Out
worn?" in the current North American
Review, he says that party is breaking
up In all parts of the world, although, In
his opinion, 1t Is holding on with a sin
gular and evil tenacity In this country.
However, Professor Smith believes that
II is weakening, but that as long as party
conflict RACES revision Of the constitution
Is hopeless. "Yet weak points" he says,
such, for Instance, as the want Of re-
sponslble control over finance, when
distinctly seen, may In some measure be
practically covered, and the edifice may
be patched so as to stand, though 1t can
not be thoroughly repaired"
In common with many other writer's of
his class, DR.. Smith makes the mistake
OF confounding with revolutionary
movement an evolutionary growth in the
public affairs Of the United States. He
says:
Organism seems to have been an insur-
rectl0n of all the elements OF discomfort
against the American commonwealth. BIZ
motallism was probably the least part Of
II. Its silverism was not a monetary the
ory, but movement OF soclalistic redistTi-
button, as anyone who listened attentiVely
to one OF Mr.. Bryan's lectures must have
4 perceived. The Soclalistic element in 1t
was directly subversive OF the principle OF
sclf-help and freedom Of acquisition on
which American institutions are founded.
Il polled q formldably large vote. 1t is
deemed likely to do the same thing in
1SVQ, and IN the meantime the case for the
commonwealth is hardly being improved.
Nor was Organism the only revolt. Do
not tell us that all the enthusiasm mani
tested by wealthy class on the occasion
Z Of the Jubilee was pure worship of the
negative virtues which alone can be dis
played by the occupant of a constitu-
tlonal throne. Before the Jubilee, had not
x the multlmilllonares been buying aristO-
cratic alliances for their daughters? Would
they not gladly buy coronets for them
selvesg DO they not buy their way into
a courts and aristoCratic circles OF Europe?
n Would they not prefer monarchy and aris-
tQcracy 20 the republic?
Th2 time since the framing Of the Amer
lean constitution has been full OF rapid,
various ana momentous changes in the
world at large and In the United States
The territory OF the United States has
extended over the continent, taken In
Louisiana, taken In California, embraced
new conditions, geographical, climatic and
commercial Population has multiplied
twenty-fold; its character has been pro-
s fuun6ly modified Instead OF being Brit
ish IL has become largely foreign Instead
n "a being wholly community Of freehold
GarMers and small merchants II has be-
como largely q community OF capitalists
and wnge-earners, part of the wage-earn-
\ eHw being alien by race and political train
K anE; Instead OF being marked by a gem
exal equality of condition, Il presents the
N Y dangerous contrast OF multi-millonaires
N @t the top OF the social scale, with masses
OK poverty and not q little OF destiGutlOn at
the other. Revolutionary movements such
AN socialism or anarchy--which Is socialism
MI 3 state OF fren9y-have spread to II from
4 NuToRe. x Sexual revolution and political
Reminism have invaded IL from the same
\ MUarter. 1t has shared with Europe
\ though perhaps In a less degree, the dis
Snfegtation OF religious belief and the con-
n2uuene withdrawal of the laws on which
spolAtical and social as well as personal
nDraiity has hitherto largely reposed. A
revolutionary writer paints American So
1ciety as made UP OF two extremes-the
syxurious passengers who sit at their ease
Nh the top of the coach, and the miser-
able cattle who draw II. He is now read
Z with sympathy. AT the time when the
constitution was framed he would have
eheen laughed to scorn.
EEofeasor Smith Ia partly right and