The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-12-12

Alex. Ironslds Replies to Bishop Halls
Statement on Sunday.

socialism a. b. apparently understands
it viii eventually az ever brought about
level the human herd 20 a given point,
4 e., % the common ground % equality,
his Idea u equality 20 mean the degpn'
GRAFTON Of the human rare rather than
the uplllt. There il 10 other movement
In The world, unless psFhap, the Chfie'
lian church. which numbers among 10
protested followers - many who fail 60
understand. o. appreciate, the meaning
and application Of lie fundamental teach
ing,. a. does socialism In Vermont This
d the more remarkable az tho points IN
dispute are scientific fasts, capable u the
fullest and most complete demonstration,
One can only come 10 this conclusion on
considering such flews a. sci forth BY
the Rt. Rev. bishop Hall IN bis lecture
on political socialism versus Christian
socialism, such characteristics nonsense
concerning socialism and socialists We
would have not even looked fof from the
average school children, let alone che
high dimltary Of the Episcopal church
IN Vermont. Nov, win bishop Hall
kindly lei "a know what book on selen'
tinc socialism he finds such rank non,
sense a. dividing up the wealth o. the
world every Saturday night inf
Il l. not our purpose 90 quarrel with
the church. The mission Of political 20.
cialism concerns man and woman on
this planet that u The Christian on an
other plapei. But when We lind such
Misrepresentation a. cur right reverend
bishop tries 90 stuff down the nreks Of
his admirers land 4 Il said 10 Barre
they are lcgionl, there 4 nothing left
for u % 90 but point ont the mistake,
II mistake i b., aud endea,or By the
medium Of your valuable paper 70 en-.
tighten those who may run away with
the idea that u l. ell gospel and truth
that flows from the lips Of their worthy
bishop. We have no doubt Nc Is a very
learned man according 20 his lights but
when he stoops 10 unfair tactics ia the
discussion Of socialism, be- win flud that
at any and al times he viii have 10 be
prepared % accept Or reject the criticism
Of those whom I venture 20 eay have
given this great question a. much study,
at least. a. has the Rt. Rev. Bishop Rail.
There Is just enough in this great world
movement 10 men Of Bishop Halle kind,
10 excite their fidieule and provoke their
contempt AZ least they would have Us
20 think 20 and II We take them ~ their
word their ignorance does not rise 90
the level Of our contempt, bat entities
them TO our pity. To the workingman
IN particular, L Is important to know
what socialism Il and what II means.
Let us endeayor 70 make clear to him,
that be will readily grasp ii, and the
moment be does be becomes a socialist.
Il Is simply impossible for a working.
man or woman To be anything else, and
the only reason that all workers are not
socialists Il that they do not know what
Il means They hear Of socialism from
such men as our learned bish0p-and
they have heard Of anarchy and Of other
things all mixed togethcr--and without
going to any trouble they conclude II Is
al the same thing and a good thing TO
leave alone. Whyf Because the CAPT.
talist editor has said so; the politician
has sworn 20 Il. and The Rt. Rev. Bishop
Hall has said amen to 1t, aud surely that
ought to settle Il. But Il doesn't. II
settles but one thing. and that j. that
the capitalist Is opposed to socialism and
that the editor and politician and our
Christian socialist friend, Bishop Hall,
are but the voices Of the capitalists.
There are some exceptions IN Vermont
but not enough to affect the rule.
Socialism Is a political movement Of
the working class clearly defined aud I'm.
compromising, which aims at the over
throw Of the present capitalist system
I by securing control Of the national gov.
I eminent and by the exercise Of public
powers. supplanting the existing capital.
Isl class government with a socialist
4 administration is 70 say. changing
a republic in name into q republic in
fact.
Socialism also means a coming phase
Of evolution in which the people coll
lectively will own and operate the
sources and means Of wealth production,
in which all will have the equal right
to work and al will cooperate together
in producing wealth and all will enjoy
1.-THE fruit of their collective labor. Not
for a moment do We despair of the fu-
ture. The greatest educational program
and propaganda ever known is spreading
over the earth The working class will
both see and understand despite the ef-
forts Of our worthy bishop to the con-
trary. They are awakening to the con-
seriousness Of their power and with the
first glimmerings OF this power the pres
| emit system is doomed Even now the
coming consciousness OF this world wide
/ awakening is shaking the foundations
Of all governments and all civilizations.
Capitalism has had It's innings and like
slavery and feudalism must pass on and
make room for a more progressive and
\ harmonious system which must be nee.
lessarily compatible with the onward
march of evolution and civilization.
In every social relationship the class
war makes itself apparent IN religion
4 ii Il manifestly clear that the purpose
4 is to detach the minds of the wage earn
ers 1.-THE produeersl from the conditions
OF life here, and to center them upon an
Imaginary life Of bliss hereafter, where
all we have lacked on earth shall pe
4 literally made mp to as, always provided
! that we taken Bishop HalRs advice ana
be "contentedp and humble, and Nor,
dered themselves lowly and reyerently
! towards our "hetters.a So we find that
mans ideas Of Heaven are always an
lidealistie extension Of bis experiences on
earth. Ii would be interesting TO know
from such men as the Rt, Rev, Bishop
Hall. who subordinate their socialism 70
Christianism, what is their conception
If 4 Kingdom Of Heaven run on coli
Ilectionist lines, and in conclusion we
All whether the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hall
81 Vermont can deny the fact that to-
j day the wealth Of our great United
states ID IN the hands of 2 per cent.
Of its population?
Written on behalf Of the sociaiis'
party in Vermont.
Alex,r Ironside,
State Secretary.