The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-03-25
z VERY once in while in human

a feeling of unrest seems to affect the
minds of the people as to their rela-
tions to each other in society, that
struggles to find some form Of adjust
ment that shall fill the measure of the
desire, which though unexpressed Is
yet real. AS a consequence in these
times of unrest questions arise that
must be answered, to the answering
of which human progress is due.
Every forward step of the past is his
torical proof of this. And when tho
period arrives Snat the discontented
begin to assert themselves they ma
turally become arrayed against the
existing order, and at once the un-
thinking and the conservative and the
controlling powers cry out: Hereto!
Infidel! Agitator! Away with him!
Cruelty him! So the person who gives
expression to that which would be
best for all is compelled, by more force
of numbers to struggle against what
seems to be hopeless odds. But as
truth is mighty and will prevail"
after awhile there comes time when
the truth reaches the minds of the
people, and step forward Is taken
never to be retraced.
2. z. z.
At the present time the question OF
questions that affects the whole earth
is summed up in what is known as the
question of Socialism, and only in pro-
portion as one has clear conception
of what is implied by Socialism-in
the modern meaning of that term
does one have an appreciation Of the
real condition of society in world
wide sense; of the causes that gave
rise to the present conditions; Of the
causes that make the present unrest
and at the same time knows what are
the lines of action that will inevitably
be pursued to bring about just such
condition that will furnish the COM
plete answer to the question Of the
hour.
No doubt this will seem to be an
assumption to many, and
wholly utopian; but little investiga-
tion will soon prove to any reasonable
mind that modern Socialism rests, not
upon the mere theories Of this man
or that man, but upon the recognition
of principle that has been governing
mankind ever since men began to
dwell together in any form Of society
and struggle upward toward freedom.
And during all the past he has been
unconscious of the operation of the
principle. 1t has required all these
years of growth and development to
bring us to place where, in looking
back over the history Of man, this
principle has been recognized, SO that
the movements of humanity, instead OF
having been a meaningless, aimless
drifting, have all had in them defin-
ate trend. Unconsciously they have
always been tending in the right di-
rection.
Now the recognition OF this prin-
ciple gives us the law that controls
us, and from the moment that the law
was recognized the growth and devel-
opment of humanity in the past is
made clear, and 1t naturally follows
that the further growth Of humanity
must be in accordance with the law.
Hence Socialism leaves the place of
utopian speculation and becomes a
science, and the only task that remains
is to recognize the law and consciously
work in harmony with it and receive
its benefits.
Through all the past the ono dis
tinguishing feature that has always
obtained and still obtains is the divi-
sion of humanity into two classes
under every form of government
whether a despotic or limited mon
archy, republic or a democracy;
under tyranical or so-called beneficent
rulers. These two classes have been
the master and slave: The Lord and
the serf; the capitalist and the wage
worker; the exploiter and exploited.
Ictt lore nj
and do now live off and at the expense
of the exploited or the wealth produc-
ing wage workers. So all wars, all the
useless luxuries of the past and pres
ent, have been taken from labor by
the ruling class for their benefit.
e z.
It is this that concentrates the
wealth in the hands of the few and
ever increases the number that are de-
pendent on the capitalistic or owning
class. 1t is this that makes few
magnates on the one hand and millions
of dependents and paupers on the
other--that makes the wages received
always becoming relatively less and
less. 1t Is this that takes the child
out of the school and puts 1t In tho
factory. the mine and the store-that
compels the wife and daughter to sell
their labor power in competition with
the husband and father, ever tending
to lower the pay Of the breedwinner.
1t Is this class struggle that is the
struggle of the NOW. It Ia this that
Is leading men to see that they must
unite to emancipate their classic
see that the social machine should be
owned by the social body for the BEN
eft of society.
49, -
When a wage worker, wealth pro-
ducer realizes fully that the interests
of the wage workers are directly op-
posed to the interests of the capitalis-
tic and exploiting class, he then be-
comes what is termed class conscious,
and realizes the fact that his eman-
cipation can only be achieved by the
emancipation of his class as whole.