The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-30
SOCIALISM,
Scholarly Address By
Fir. Burke
on POPULAR THEME.
Capital Is Essential OF
Worlds Growth.

J GpSldiiolil, BlNlHS the IOufJh IN the
series for the benefit of the Notre Dame
convent fund. His former parishioners
turned out in large numbers to listen
/ to him.
| Father Burke was at his best. He has
lost none of the eloquence which made
MIN famous as one of the preachers in
the state during his earlier career. The
treatment of the question was logical
and thorough. He showed deep study
| of the question. Father Burke said in
part:
Our subject of socialism is one that
concerns the church, the state and
the individual. 1t is as important
to the king on his throne as to the
president in the White House 1t
concerns the citizen of an empire as
we'll as that Of a republic. 1t is as
much the affair of the statesman max
ing laws, as that Of the politician lead
ing his party; it has its moral as well
as its economic values. The philoso-
pher, the theologian, the editor,
whether Christian or atheist, should
weigh its considerations More than
| that, it must and will and does force
| itself on us. 1t Is the foe or friend
of religion. Rightly understood it up
holdS justice, encourages industry, puts
mans latest powers into activity, de-
velops the resources of his surround
| lngs and dignifies human nature
wrongly understood, it upsets bust
ness, frightens capitalists, brings to a
standstill if not paralyzes industry.
Worse than that, puzzling and har-
assing the employees and discouraging
and disheartening The employed, il ar
| rays them, who ought to be friends
mutually assisting one another, as en-
emies against each other. But one
| move further it turns against authori-
ty, civil and religious, and as the in
furiated mob blinded by passion glar-
ing in the eye; and maddened with
rage in its heart,-an law, all order,
all rights forgotten, dashes heedlessly
on it's road of ruin. What do we mean
by socialism? What is it's origin?
Whence comes its fountain head?
What are its methods? What it's pres
ent status in our own and other coun-
tries.
If we take the system from etymol-
ogy OF the word, we would see that
not only the doctrine is good in theory,
but better still in practice. We will
go further and say tits a very COM
mon-place assertion, It's a necessity of
mans nature,-he is a social being
he is created to live in society. Every
instinct, every talent, every power, ev-
cry faculty of his being demands the
society of his fellow man. From this
want of his nature, from this demand of
his being, from this necessity OF his
constitution spring all his joys, and all
his miseries. Rooted here in his very
nature Is this communism. But like
all other things rooted in his nature,
it is subject to abuse and use. The
proper study of man, says Pope, is
man. A queer thing this genius, man.
Tonight we have him as the socialist.
And what is now the new character
of communism he is assuming? This
either the presentation of an old truth
or an old misrepresentation of a new
error.
Hegel institutes a system of philoso-
ply. 1t was an intellectual system 1t
was captivating, soothing, and, above
all, it was flattering, and consequently
as powerful on, as deceptive to man.
He set up man as the embodiment of
all things past, present and to come as
an idea. Z The system was so carefully
constructed that it suited the studious
minds of professors, attachments of
statesmen, the subtleties of lawyers
the practice of physicians, the captious
arguments of the politician, the revo-
lutionist, the demagogue, and the re-
ligious belief of the pagan, the atheist,
the infidel and agnostc. 1t is the
fountain head from which have blown
socialism, nihilism, pessimism and all
the other isms for the last hundred
years that have been bred and fostered
in the human mind.
And now the great question may be
asked, is this theory of any consequence
practically here? Is it any concern to the
citizens of our great republic, and above
all, to the believers. and upholders of
Christianity? If we consider the eff
forts that are made to disseminate this
doctrine and to lead men astray-honest
men. faithful and true, we must an
swer in the affirmative.
Why? Because, first, it is something
novel, men are attracted by what is
new; second because it purposes a
balm for every wound; third. il is the
making of this world an Eden: and.
nnally, becomes most Of all powerful
because 1t flatters men, Reduce IA
practice, it proclaims aloud equality
| There will be no more rich. no more
poor, no high, no low, no commands, no
obedience. In this new Eutooia, ali
WIN be nammocked in contentment,
peace and happiness WHY should
this not be so?'' asks the socialist. WHY
should one man be possessed Of
thousands, even millions, and another
or nothing? Why should one Toll
at eXhausting labor, while another
spends his time in idle luxury?
why i'll one word should men. women
tNiiN .hilul Sl ne turned INTO machines
70 grind out wealth for rich cornora-
lions? Whence this inequality? Were
not all men born equal, and. have NOT
they right to life, liberty, and the mr.
SUIT OF happiness as says the Constitu-
ton, the Declaration of Independencap
something is wrong, says one: every.
thlng is wrong, says another, and fine
Whole world topsy turvy says a third
property is theft, capital is selfsbness
law Is slavery, religion is hyporrisv
and government tyranny, politics il
loppylsm, craftsmanship bulidozin%
ana taxes, stock exchanges. trusts snii
corporations are sucking the life blond
out Of the people. And our Socialist ie
gong to change it all and put things
to rights. E''N57
All branches of industries ami anvil
culture combined are to be transfo,,ygoed
INTO public departments, and in either
0f the two ways is this to BE- brongbt
about. According to the first. tbe sociail
istic state must begin by taking ms
session OF the great industrial est9bIiqb-
ments expropriating on the pronn5 80
public utility. This only In case oe
peaceful solution OF the Question p,It
,..s-..s. - .s
TRY GRAIN.0! TRY GRAlN.OI