The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-17

A correspondent of the Journal, who is
evidently a Socialist or thinks he is, criti-
cises it for confounding the Belgian So
cialists with Anarchists. The correspond
ent takes the unnecessary trouble of point
ing out the difference between socialism
and a~narchism, which all reasonably we'll
informed people understand, and says the
uprising of the Socialists in Belgium is a
demand for universal suffrage. The Jour
nal" says the correspondent, like all capt.
talist papers, seems to think that on every
occasion that presents itself it must de-
nounce in unmeasured violence the Social
lists, which stand not only for political but
economic freedom as well, and for that
reason alone has again come forth with an
abusive TRADE against Socialists"
The editorial paragraph which has
aroused the ire of the Journals Socialist
friend was based on inadequate informa-
ton as to the real character of the outbreak
in Brussels. The first dispatches did not
indicate the real character of the move
ment. The trouble began with a demonstra-
ton against the King. who on his arrival
at the railroad station in Brussels was sur
rounded, as the dispatch said, by a large
gathering of Socialists bearing red flags"
The dispatch said the King was mobbed
by Socialists" and as the red flag is uni
versally regarded as the emblem of anarch-
ism the inference was natural that those
who did the mobbing were Anarchists.
Later dispatches have shown that the agi-
tation is largely an outgrowth of a demand
for a revision of the Constitution removing
certain restrictions on the suffrage. and
this fact has been made clear by the Jour
nal. In as far as the movement aims at
an extension of the franchise, and perhaps
ultimately at the establishment of repub-
Iican government, the Journal wishes it
success. 1t is doubtful, however, if the
Socialists in any European country would
be satisfied with the establishment Of Or
derby republican government with man
hood suffrage. They want a new distribu-
ton OF property as we'll as of political
power. That is the real aim of the Ameri-
can Socialist, whether he admits it or not.
Our correspondent says:
The Journal does not hate the Socialist
because he is an Anarchist. but because
the Socialist wishes 10 substitute for the
present system of anarchy a better social
order in which the class of eXDloiters of
labor which now exist will be compelled TO
render to society a service before society
will be indebted TO them.
The Journal is in favor of everything in
the nature of real reform, but it does not
regard our present form of government as
a system of anarchy nor see how the
situation would be improved by turning
things topsy-turvy. 1t does not believe
that a man is a public enemy because he
employs capital in giving workingmen a
chance to earn wages, nor does it quite per-
ceive how society would be benefited by
substituting exploiters of communism for
so-called exploiters of labor. The Journal
is opposed to titles of nobility, but not to
titles TO property. If Socialists do not wish
to be mistaken for Anarchists they should
not carry red flags nor advocate anarch-
istic doctrines.