The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-05-04

Replies to John Danner In.
An Interesting
Article.

Brother Danner, in his efforts to de-
stroy the saloon, shows clearly that the
government, by licensing the traffic,
is in league with hell for gain. But this
is the natural result of unnatural sys-
TENS Of government. Why do men form
trusts, water stock, corner the market,
keep saloons, and do a thousand other
things? 1t is because 1t pays; and,
what makes 1t pay? Our profit system.
Now, as Socialism is the only political
organization, on the earth today that
proposes to destroy the profit system,
few ideas on Socialism might not be
amiss. Socialism is either a natural
provision for human government, or
else 1t is the natural outgrowth Of un-
natural systems of government. And
in all matters pertaining to government
I have but one question to ask; IL it
were better than any system OF govern
ment that man has ever yet had? The
good book tells us that man born of
woman is Of few days and full OF trou-
Bile. History and experience win at
test the truth Of that saying, but why
is 1t true? Did God create man for
trouble? Or does man bring trouble
onto himself by ignoring Divine pro-
visions? I believe 1t is universally con-
ceded that God did make provision by
natural law, to meet all the natural
wants Of all Of his creations.
Now, God certainly knew where He
created man, that man must live in
social relationship; He certainly knew
that human government would be q
necessary element in society. "Then
did he make provision for a fund neces-
| sary to sustain human government?
| Or did He leave that want to be filed
by the selfish provisions Of men?" Sin
| gle tax men tell us that God did make
| such provision; that the natural law of
the rise and fall. of the rental value of
land, as population rises and falls;
leaving at all times a fund sufficient
for the requirements Of government, is
manifestly Gods provision for the life
Of government"
Now II God did intend to make pro-
vision to meet all of the natural wants
of all of His creations, and did provide
fund to sustain the life Of govern
ment: would He not also make pro-
vision for a system of human govern
ment and not leave that want to be.
filled by the selfish ingenuity of men?
1t seems to me that He would. Then
such system would be perfect in all
|
exact justice to all men; thing that no
human government Is doing today, or
ever has done. Certain 1t is that labor,
cooperating with nature, is constant
ly producing wealth enough to make
everybody as happy and as comfortable
as it were possible for wealth to make
them; certain it is. that the uneven
distribution Of that wealth. is causing
poverty, want, sin and misery in So
ciety; and, that such uneven distribu-
ton is brought about by the perverted
| selfish sentiments of men. which Is be-
ing fed and cultivated by all man. made
| government. In all monarchial gov
ernments we find the classes living at
ease, luxury, and extravaganza, by
virtue Of government, at the expense Of
| the masses, while the masses live In
poverty and want. In all popular man.
made governments, we find commercial
ism, capitalism, and unnatural systems
| of taxation, sustained with a view of
increasing individual profit, on human
effort. Now, destroy the possibility Of
individual profit and you destroy, COM
mercialism, capitalism. and competi-
ton. Keep the chances open to get
something from the other fellow with
out labor, and because it has never
been adopted as such, is no evidence
that 1t is not, because every natural
law, natural science, or natural pro-
duct, useful to man, that has ever been
discovered was discovered by some
body, at some period in the worlds
history.
When a man that must labor for a
living (and that is the natural condi-
ton Of all men) once gets to point
when his age or infirmities stand in
the way Of his getting job then 1t is
time for him to consider the claims of
Socialism, or anything else that promi
ses to change that condition of things.
. When a man spends 40 or As years of
his life working for others profit and
: then finds himself without the means
, of support, then 1t is time for him to
ask himself whether this is in line with
natural law. or any Divine provision
The force of natural law, will take care
. Of mankind during infancy, and would
! during old age II natural law was re-
? spected, but, unfortunately for society
!, man has the power to ignore Divine
: provisions, and when he does the
natural result will follow. Capital has
now by mans provisions became the
employer of labor, but not by any natu'
raj law or any Divine provision fol
capital employs labor only for profit
and when there is no promise of prom
there is no employment. Wealth is 6
!, natural employer Of labor, as wealth
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