New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-21
ADLER ON SOCIALISM,.
Says 1t Strikes at Root of Social In
stitutiOns. the Family.

The Rev DR.. Felix Adler, addressing the Ethical
Culture Society, yesterday, said that socialism was
a dangerous propaganda The chief objection that
he found with it was that in standing for the
masses 1t struck at the root of social institutions
the family. DR.. Adler said in part:
Socialism is very nearly the bad in democracy
existing to-day. generalized and enlarged It stands
through MarxianisIn, and cooperation TO Christian
socialism Socialism as term is Elusive, scatter
ing diversified. 1t is not one thing, but bundle
Not long ago as was leaving a hall in which a
very rich woman whom know, and OF whom l
asked how she liked it She was enthusiasts
bubbling, and her eyes shone she was perIneated
with the doctrine Of the speaker She left got into
palace east of Central Park which shows that
one may be a socialist and yet be rich.
ure have made it their tad to end the ennu Of
their lives. They. toy with socialism as the French
Voitare before the French Revolution. The type is
not 10 be taken seriously
DR.. Adler said that municipal socialism a
fallacy. He said:
have mentioned. For instance, most people
think that their brand of socialism is the only
ts Pr0PTsIrID nl % ,+1 factIitieS md the IKE
That Is not socialism. II is eXpedient, bust
ness proposition. and therefore is the purest ndi
powers Of government, but not In a soclalistc way
and IL is TO be taken an example OF the horrible
Ism
/ do not believe that socialism Is practical
Wherever the socialists have come into power, az
I'm France when they have taken up the reins of
government IN any measure they have dropped
Socialism would. tend toward lack Of individual
freedom and the heavy conservation OF the masses
would rule. That would tend to discourage human
progress Socialism would act hamper in dis
tributing human talent: Great moral objections
stand against the socialist propaganda do not
believe in The sort Of moral equality and fraternity
that socialism produces.
The speaker asserted that socialism had done
some good in awakening men to their rights in the
social organizations. lie said:
Socialism has rendered an immense service in
calling attention 10 the equality of men In tho
men advanced by the Senator from South Carolina
who said that the white man IS baked of better
phemous statements meaning that the black and the
white not morally equal In the same way
] know a man who owns glass factory, and who
works little Hungarian children within It's walls
and at night. When one called his attention TO the
children, working in tho glare Of the furnace, he
said, pointing 10 their dulled faces they were not
Socialism means promiscuity I loathe it. Moral
fly like culture. demands segregation. Socialism
promises great peril 10 the family It's highest
standard is devotion TO the mass II tends TO wipe
The family is going TO be the standard about
which the ethical and moral fight will wage, Is
waging AS l understand H. socialism is the
II is the seed pod OF morality. We stop
playing with the family.
DR.. Adler said that next Sunday, when h is to
give his last regular address for the season. he
will tell what he thinks may be made to suffice for
socialism and have in il the element Of moral
Before his audience left he announced that his
plan, announced a week ago for an ethical culture
members OF the society. and that in addition to
two subscriptions Of $4,000 and s. OOO each begin
a building fund; he had received through the week
sSo,l7O in small subscriptions. The fund now
amounts To more than $4,000.