Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-09-12

be the shield and refuge of the wea
= before the weak shall have become tn
!, strong. 1t must become democratic
a institution once again.
=, The Church should not come into tn
political field with candidates of it
own nomination; but, in connectio
with the American Federation O
, LaJor,it might very properly enunciatt
a platform" on which all good cltl
, zens may stand without apprehension
iof hostile legislation.
8 The pulpit must promulgate the
gospel OF Christian socIallsm-not that
travesty Of socialist principles which
constituted Mr.. Debs's platform il
1904-but legitimate and healthy
socialism that shall adjust the relations
Of labor and capital upon an equitable
and enduring basis of pro6t-sharing
which will not leave the laborer depend
ent on charity In his old age, nor take
away from capital the incentive to en-
terprise. Communism 10 out of the
question, but it is quito possible to
have safe and sane" socialism. A
well-ordered social republic is not only
a possibility, 1t Is the inevitable out
come OF modern tendencies-unless.i in =
deed, the clergy OF the land shall show
themselves moral cravens, ard politi-
cal leaders prove to be stupid blunder-
ers. In that case-with an irreligious
and uninstructed mob managing the
vessel-shipwreck is certain.
| The crisis will be upon US in ten
years-perhaps sooner. Surely there
is no time to be lost in waiting for
Issues to turn up, when already as a
broad principle the issue is clearly
marked, and there only remain for Sc
lection the particular measures that
will translate the principle into prac-
tice. The wise statesman anticipates
and provides for the future. The mere
politician moves in the present only,
and does nothing except in response
to some popular ''demand"-whish is
never heard until the people have be-
come exasperated and resentful, and
are Intent only upon destroying what
they have learned to hate. without
knowing how to substitute anything
beneficial in its place.
1t should be remarked that there are
not a few wealthy persons who, recog-
nizing the fundamental iniqpity Of our
present industrial organization, advo-
cate what they call socialism," when
really the system which they propose
to substitute for existing arrangements
is communism. They believe that |
"the land and all the instruments OF |
production should be held In common |
by the people or by the government as
the agent Of the people," In other
words, they wish to abolish the insti-
tuition Of private property. The found
er OF socialism, Charles Fourier, [born
1772. died 199Dtaught no such doctrine.
Reserving for another occasion a
full explanation OF what true socialism
Is, / will say that socialism is the
exact opposite. the very antithesls,
Of philosophic anarchism. The
anarchist wants as little govern
ment as is consistent with the public
safety. The socialist wants as much
government as is possible without the
destruction of private enterprise. Even
when government is no longer neees-
'ary as a curb to evil passions. socialist
Institutions will remain as the best
means for co-ordinating the productive
abors OF mankind in a system that
distributes the rewards OF In
lustry among happy and contented
people. This Is no dream of an en-
husiast. Industrial enterprises have
,een successfully conducted according
o socialist principles, and have failed
o become permanently established
My because sufficient capital to oper-
tie on large scale was lacking to the
projectors. This impeachment does not
xlst ia the United States. Rockefeller
las shown US how to have socialism
mong capitalists. From this it is but .
short step to the socialism Of uni ted
abor and capital. Under the new
ystem, the increased efficiency Of Ia
or and the immunity from strikes will 9
lore than compensate the manufact-
rer for diminished per cent In his @
lofts. His income will be larger.
lie will always be sure of at least six e
or cent on the capital invested; for r
ais will be among the items OF expense .
rs we'll as wages and salaries) tn be
educted from the value OF the finished 7,
roducts before the annual division of n
rofits is made. The proportion in T
HIGH the profits are to be divided will :.
DIT be the same in ali lines OF product.
N. This will be arranged by the De-
.rtment of Commerce and Labor. The =
if they are sensible men, =
i'll enter into the plan cheerfully. II n
ct. then the taxing power of the G
,vernment will bring them to their >
'nses. Those manufacturing concerns 4,
lat have capital OF twenty thousand c.
,llars or upwards and stay out of the
rofit-sharing system should be re-
Tired to pay ten per cent Of their Ii
oss sales into the national trea sury. o
he ten per cent tax on the circulation 81
State banks Of issue Is precedent. n,
hat established our present national Fl
INKS. A similar procedure will es- Cl
blish national system OF socialist ~ ~
That this is the DrOper WaV TO daal Sn