The independent., 1904-08-11
Socialism

Editor Independent: | enclose II 10
renew nv subscription which | notice
by wrapper has expired.
Personally | wish you could see your
way TO come squarely out for social
ism. / am business man; have made
4 careful study Of economics for twelve
wears. Am Presbyterian deacon; SO
/ feel fairly conservative. But some
radical change must be made and mace
soon. Our vast fortunes are corrupt
ing the rich, and are giving our young
men false ideas and false ideals.
was a single-taxer first and | still
should rejoice to see it become
law but the ideal or socialism is
truer and greater ideal. In fact, SIM
gle-tax but proposes the Specialization
of land Well why not then sociaiize
machinery and capital.
II must come ultimately or our civ
ilization will go down in dark chaos
as did that of Egypt, Babylon, Greece
and Rome. Equality of opportunity,
true and essential brotherhood 1t
seems to me is the only possible basis
of an enduring civilization.
1t is the business OF all of us to see
to it that no person who wants to
work stands idle or IS Iorcet to eat
the bread of charity.
Monopoly is big word. 1t is the
cause of much poverty and misery;
but how can we abolish it?
The single tax offers remedy.
Socialism offers remedy.
They are the only ones am able to
find in all the economic study OF years.
| incline to the remedy OF socialism
for many reasons which cant so
into here. The literature of the phil
osophy is rich and varied. You can
do your clients much good by giving
it in condensed form in your columns.
C. f. NESBIT.
1901 Phelps Place, Washington d. C.
(The Independent has no hesitancy
in admitting that the socialist phil
osophy has done much to modify and
influence modern political thought. II
gives due credit to socialism for a
clearer view of the forces at work in
society. But The Independent can &C
the whole road with neither socialist
nor anarchist Both extremes OF poll
tical thought have their uses, but, be-
ing extremes, they must always re-
main ideals unrealized.
Specifically The Independent ooulC
not come squarely out for socialism fol
two reasons: (a) 1t repudiates a;
unsound the MARKHAM theory OF 'slr
plus value and the concept OF value
upon which that is predicated. lb
History fails to show that the slav'
ever freed himself; and the effort t
build up political party led ant
dominated by the "propertyless" class
" as The Independent views it, is, il
the language of Senator ingalls,, al
irridescent dream"
1t is true that the extreme division
Of labor is having the effect OF break
Ing down the intense individaalisn
which was so noticeable, especially il
this country, half century agc; an
to that extent the social pendulum /
swinging away from ideal anarchy an
toward cOllectivism. But your Marx
ian socialist has bed of ProeTuste
upon which he demands that ever
form OF human industry be CON
PEELED to lie = 'the collective OWL
ership OF all the means OF pr
duction and distribution He fol
gets that the operation OF ma
ural law makes different substance
appear to act in contrary ways. Ii
bag of sand and an equal weight OF by
drogen gas be released from balloo
500 feet above the earth's surfac
the two substances go in opposite
rections, although the law or gravit;
ti0n has no exceptions.
Different forms of production val
quite as much as sand and hydroge
gas. The MARKHAM law OF social gray
tation is faulty, unscientifc. unnatur,
because 1t is assumed that all form
of production are OF the same soci
specific gravity and that therefore. 7;
will 60 down together into ccllecti
ownership.-Associa Editor.)