The labor world., 1902-01-11

In sending you a reply to the letter
written by Archbishop Corrigan, says
rev. Father McGrady of Bellevue, KY,
70 the editor of the St. Louis Post
Dispatch, I presume that the eminent
prelate ts not adverse to an Antellleent
discussion of his views. Since man Is
rational being, and arrives at the
knowledge Of scientific truth by the ex-
ercise OF his mental faculties. every
candid inquirer invites criticism.
The most reverend ordinary of New
1ork states that socialism is absurd
UNJUST and impossible. I maintain that
the truth Of these assertions cannot
De demonstrated, and, following the
example OF his grace, will put my
argument before the public that those
interested in the solution of the in
oustrial problem may weigh the value
OF our respective claims
The archbishop says: '"The socialist
working on the poor mans envy of
the rich, endeavors to destroy private
property and maintains that individ-
ual possessions should become the COM
mon property of all. Each citizen will
then have his equal share Of whatever
there Is to enjoy"
With all due respect to his lordship
l wish to call his attention to the fact
that this paragraph misrepresents the
teachings of socialism. False state
ments are very poor weapons in de-
Tense OF truth. and while I do not be-
l1eve that the archbishop is guilty of
calumny, yet to the intelligent student
OF sociology good intentions do not
wreath error in a halo of glory.
Socialists never attempt to inflame
the souls of the poor with the passion
OF envy. but with sense of Justice
They do not censure the rich TO: their
possessions, but they condemn the sys-
tenn thai enables one man to accumu-
late a fortune on the unpaid toll of
his unfortunate brethren. They do not
advocate the division of wealth or the
abolition of private property. Under
socialism the laborer would get all that
he produces, whereas today he works
two hours for himself and seven hours
for the benefit Of his capitalist master
With the fruit of his toll he could buy
a house, furnish it with a library, adorn
1t with paintings of the richest hues
and statuary of the finest marble. !.
s Wealth consists Of all those articles
that have been mod fled by human
quail the
= = { Z W
III 81 productio 81. alpEitaI Is wsealt6.
but wealth u not always capital.
residence Is wealth, but not capital,
for q residence does not produce more
wealth. Socialists do not oppose the
possession of private wealth, but, on
the contrary, wish to extend this pos
session till every child Of our race will
be a recipient Of its blessings. They do
not advocate the division Of wealth, but
staunchly maintain that division is
detrimental to the growth and devel-
opment Of the social organism.
At the present time, under the DOM
ination Of capitalism, the producers get
one-sixth of what they. create, and
give the remainder to an array of So
cial parasites. This Is very unjust
division, perpetrated for the benefit of
that class who are always fierce in
their denunciations Of the socialists for
attempting to prevent this division.
Capitalism is founded on the profit
system. on the divine right Of exploita-
ton. Modern industry pre-supposes
a vdSI "a AJ u CAAApAOyCS VIII nave
nothing to sell but their labor power.
If every man owned the means of sub
sistence, he would not sell his labor
power for the means of subsistence.
Therefore capitalistic production neces-
states the appropriation Of the toiling
millions who are thus compelled to ex-
change their labor power for the nec-
essaries of life.
It is strange that the archbishop, in
deploring the imaginary evils Of social
ism, could not see the real evils of
capitalism.
Today we have the indolent and lazy
who live on the wealth created by the
honest toiler.
Socialism is an economic question,
and does not propose to interfere with
the family and religion.
"Another great objection to social
ism," says the archbishop, Ts it's anti
Christian spirit. The great leaders of
socialism are anti -Christion." The
great leaders Of science today are anti
Christian but that fact does not make
science anti Christian. St. John, Chrys-
oston, St. Ambrose, st. Basil, St. Greg
ory the Great, first pope of the name;
in fact, all the early fathers, together
with Baron Won Ketteler, archbishop
Of Mamerce, denounced the right of
private capital, (not the right of pri-
va ta nronertv) and I presume that his