The Mankato free press., 1903-08-14
SOCIALISTIC CHALLENGE.
Questions Which Followers of That
Idea Wish to Discuss.

The Free Press has been requested to
publish the following:
To the Pastors and Christian Business
| Men of Mankato:
Whereas, it is the almost universal
custom of public speakers whether relig-
Gus, political orlothers, who do not sym
pathize with the social movement, when
speaking on subjects where the lawless
element of society are referred to, to
class the anarchist, the socialist and the
communist as equally disreputable per-
sons.
In the autumn of 1901 the Republican
county convention assembled in the court
house at Hornesdale, Pa, passed and
published a set of resolutions in which
they said: ''We call upon out lawmak-
ers, national and state, to make such leg
islation as will Danish from this land
of liberty the anarchist, socialist and
communist" A few months ago was
was held in Music hall, Baltimore, Nd,
a meeting of more than five thousand
persons. One of the speakers at that
meeting, pastor of city church, a man
of more than ordinary ability, in the
COttTSc VI Ills cSS, Sdlu. w Z HdNc a
wide welcome for worthy foreigners who
come to this country, but not one foot
of room for anarchist, socialist or COM
munist." On Sept. 18th, 1901, The Chris
tian Endeavor World, whose editor is DIR.
IF. f. Clark, the founder and present
leader of the Young Peoples Society of
Christian Endeavor, speaking of the man
who shot President Mckinley said: "His
explanation of his conduct is that he had
read anarchist literature and imbibed
the hatred red-handed socialism feels to-
wards all organized society.
"We have long taken it for granted
that our free institutions make us i'm
mune against the dangers of socialism" ("
Now these are but fair samples of
representative utterances of men holding
high positions in the church and religious
societies. If the sentiments expressed
by the above utterances were true the
socialists would be a bad set indeed, but
they are not true and whether uttered
through ignorance or deliberate at
tempt to deceive matters not in either
case they are inexcusable with the truth
so near at hand.
Webster's dictionary defines socialism
as ga theory of society that advocates a
more orderly and harmonious arrange
ment Of the social relations of mankind,
than that which has hitherto prevailed" !"
Encyclopedia Britannica says, "The ethics
of socialism are identical with the
ethics of Christianity"
Prof. Ely, the eminent author says:
Socialism is applied Christianity. The
Christian rule applied to every day life.
Political socialism stands for the substi-
tuition of public or social capital in the
place of private or individual capital"
Therefore, be it resolved, That the
Mankato socialist local hereby challenge
any political party, church or society to
meet us by representative to discuss
the questions:
(Which offers the best practical means
for the working man private or public
capital in the production and distribu-
ton of utilities?
sCan man do business under our pri-
vate capital system and serve God at the
same time?
"Has a church that teaches and prac-
tices private capital in business any au-
thority from Christ or his disciples?"
FOCAL MANKATO SOCIALIST PARTY
322 South Front Street.
| Mankato, Mimi, Aug. Sd, 1903.