The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-11
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY.
Addison W. Barr Tells Of It's Aims and
Its objects.

| deep interest was manifest in the
remarks by Mr.. Barr He said inssub-
stance:
In opening this series of public meet
lngs for the social democratic party,
1t becomes my duty to convey, so far
as Is possible in a single talk, correct
impression not only of the aims of our
organization, but Of the general prin-
eiples governing it's mode of operations
as well as the logic of events which
have led to its organization.
| First of all, we are advocates of a
system of collective capital commonly
| known as socialism. In other words,
the public ownership and democratic
management Of the means of produce
! ton and distribution in order, not to
| interfere with private ownership of
personal property, but to secure a
more Just and equitable distribution Of
the socially produced wealth.
| To give expression to our beliefs, de-
sires and positive knowledge upon this
subject, is the object of these meet
ings. We believe aye, more, we know,
that the methods in vogue today are
full of faults. At least some Of these
| we comprehend.
| We come before you rot as self-ccn-
stituted emancipators of a particular
class, but as missionaries of Il better
way and Il nobler standard for all So
ciety.
1t is deplorahly true that economic
classes with clashing interests do exist.
1t Is true that systematic justice is q
stranger in the industrial world, and
that the producing class suffer in
consequence. 1t is very generally ad-
mitted that conditions are onerous and
should be improved The question is,
how, and by whom?
From one extreme it is urged that
/ charity mill "A N bpnTU n M hiohar m |
teaching must assist the oppressed to
the better adapt themselves to existing
conditions, and the better improve their
opportunities.
By an opposite extreme, it is asserted
that the wage earning class must
emancipate itself.
While it is true that the charity OF
the kindly disposed is a daily necessity,
and that moral influence is beneficial
and, therefore, desirable, the fact re-
mains that there is nothing in them
that acts directly to secure justice for
those who most need it.
Again, while true that economic class
lines are painfully drawn and that the
integrity of any movement for relief
must depend upon the interest and ac-
tiVity of those most concerned, and
that the working, or, as l prefer to say,
che producing class, must institute and
conduct active efforts for a change TO
better methods, it still remains a facs
that the supremacy of any class what
soeYer is not the end desired but that
society shall elevate itself.
Thus while a realization of class in
terests and an appreciation of the class
struggle are necessary to an intelligent
effort for relief, it does not follow that
class arrogance is more excusable in
one instance than in ANOTHER but that
whether we be capitalists or proleta-
rians socialists or nom socialists
Christians, Jews or atheists, we are
| something more; we are citizens, men
and women, and above all, taken to-
gether, we are society. Socialism or
collectivism implies, not division, but
unity not discord, but harmony, and
we engage in this conflict Of classes, not
exultantly but regretfully, and only be-
cause it is a necessary course in the
performance of our duty to society.
| We deplore the prevalence Of sin,
| crime, degradation and poverty, and
we seek the causes that they may be
removed. While the immediate causes
are legion, our researches have taught
US that they nearly all arise from one
fundamental or primary cause.
! Thus sin and crime arise from a de-
PRAYED moral character. This in turn
arises from deprayed surroundings and
a lack of proper advantages; these con-
ditiors are caused by poverty or the
| insecurity Of opportunity for continued
honorable self-support, and this phen-
omenon arises from an inadequate sys-
TEN OIL wealth production and distrbu-
| ton.
We have learned thar the wealth of
society is essentially a social product.
| That the world of Industry has out
grown the day and the practice Of in
dividual initiative in industry, that our
great factories and their complicated
machinery so far from being the crea-
ton OF any one man, are the fruit of
the labor of not only of the collective
efforts of society of To-Day, but Of gen
erations OF labors and inventors which
have gone before.
| Furthermore, their operation can
emily be accomplished by the associated
labor Of society. Therefore, being both
the product and the legacy of society.
and depending upon society for their
operation and reproduction, we claim
that they should be the property Of and
be operated in the interests of society.
rather than in the interest Of individ-
uals.
The rights Of the individual we do
not assail, we simply distinguish be-
tween the rights of the Individual and
the rights of society The indiyidlIaI
should be secure In the right to pro-
duoe and in the possession Of the value
of the product. That is not the case
at present.
Society should be secure in the right
to operate services essential to the
social welfare, in order that no I'M
serupulous individuals could possibly
bring about a condition OF general in
justice ard denravity for their own
aSgrandizement
| We behave that the American peo-
pie stand ready to accept the truth,
and we endeaVeP to present that truth
Tin its application to industrial affairs)
| in plain. positive manner, free from
establishment or Objectionable TRADE.
| We do net advertise to be the whole
socialist movement, but we do claim
! that we give clean and wholesome
expression of social interests and social
| duties, and reach many who might
| otherwise remain disinterested.
| We look forward to q union of So
cialist forces, and stand ready to go
more than half way to meet our friends
on an honorable basis.
! Whatever may be the measure of our
success OF faiiure,we shall continue TODD
ouv duty, and when the logic of events
| shall have replaced the parties of to
| day, even as the methods of today shall
| be replaced, we may know that the To-
cal democratic party had not lived in
vain