The Irish standard., 1905-07-01

When the thermometer is over 80
degrees in the shade, anything cool is
apt to be welcome, says Charles Cop.
pens, S. j., in the Omaha True Voice.
But an exception must be made for the
cool assurance with which Socialist
ic leader of distinction on Tuesday of
last week, put forth the real claims
and purposes of his party, before a
numerous audience of our citizens, in
Jefferson Square. Here is the report
of the plan as it was summed up in
the World-Herald of Wednesday,. The
speaker, Mr.. Collins, of Chicago, said:
81 would take, not by force, but by the
slow process of lawful acquisition
through better legislation, as the out
come of wiser ballot in the hands of
our citizens, the entire plant that we
call civilization, and make it the COM
mon property of all the people. be-
lieve this to be perfectly practicable;
in fact, any other idea is relic of bar
barism. What the Socialist desires
is that the corporation of humanity
should control all production"
To take what belongs to another
without his consent if done secretly
is called Stealing" if done openly
and violently, it is highway robbery;
thieves and robbers used to be i'm.
prisoned and disgraced for life. Even
today human society clings to this
view of things, and continues to en-
force respect for private property by
more or less stringent laws. A few
years ago Communism was advocated
by many demagogues, who wanted
nothing less than the abolition of all
private ownership of property. They
would take all private property and
make it public property. Their pur-
pose was so preposterous that common
sense rebelled against it, and now
Communism is defunct.
But socialists have devised less
shocking, though equally unjust
scheme to overturn the ancient order
of things. They too, as Mr.. Collins
here tells us, want to take away from
its present owners not exactly all
property, but all productive property.
AS he puts it: what the Socialist de-
sires is that the corporation Of human
ity should control all production. !"
"The corporation of humanity" that
term sounds so we'll that it carries
conviction to many plain, honest
workingman; and all the Socialist
wants is that this grand corporation
of humanity shall control all produc-
ton.
But if we translate all this bun
combe language into the plain terms
of common sense, it means what fol-
lows: you have accumulated means Of
making living for yourself and fam
lily; Mr.. Collins says he will take it
from you. You have dairy, some
wagons and teams, blacksmith shop,
tailor shop, a grocery store, fur.
niture store, printing establishment,
a farm, vegetable garden, vine.
yard, an apple or peach orchard, a
bindery, clothes factory, etc.; the
Socialists desire to control all pro-
duction, and they will take it from
you. That is exactly what the speaker
said: II would take" But then he is
a gentleman; he would not take it
secretly, like thief; nor violently
like highway robber. Not at all; but
he will take it, all the same, by cum
ming legislation or, as he grandilo.
quently expressed it: "by the slow
process of lawful acquisition through
better legislation, as the outcome of a
better ballot in the hands of our citi-
zens."
Some people seem to imagine that
there is nothing wrong in getting an
others property by means of legisla.
ton; every thing becomes lawful,
they think, if they can get law pass
ed to bring it about. This is Mr.. Col
Inns view of the Socialistic movement
And it is not his individual view
only; it is the latest development OF
the entire campaign of Socialism, both