Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1908-04-23
Socialism's Reply
t. t>ss...R. R.1:;;ehop -; Carroll
Address Delivered by Ida Crouch-Hazlet Sunday Even
ing, April IL, in Parlors of Workers Club
On Socialist Principles

that an enlightened social state can be
brought about in no other way.
The socialists disagree with the an.
archists in their solution of the social
problem, but not in its analysis.
Socialists stand for an organized and
constructive program. But Bishop Car
rolls purpose is to brand US all indis-
criminately as bomb-throwers, and he
knows he is hiding behind a shameful
and unmanly subterfuge when he does
it. He win not meet US like a man
and sustain his false position before US,
but he barks at our heels when our
back is turned.
Challenged Throughout the Country.
We have sent challenges 10 Bishop
Carroll to meet the socialists whom
he 80 valiantly maligns, and sustain
his accusations when they are there
to reply. But he will not fight in the
open-only maintains gorilla warfare
when he thinks he is protected by
ambush.
This is the method adopted by the
Catholic priesthood all over the coun-
try in fighting the socialists. They
have been challenged for their baseless
attacks in city after city; but they al.
ways fail to respond. Their conscious.
mes of truth and sincerity may be
judged when they refuse to take the
stand Of courage for their convictions.
Said Socialists Have No Platform.
During the progress of our munich
pal campaign this priest stated in the
Auditorium that the socialists had nc
platform. As the platform of the
socialist party was, and always is,
spread broadcast, as we are the only
party that has a perpetual and definite
platform, the malicious falsehood was
so palpable that catholics in the audi
ence were on the point Of getting uI
aud denouneing il at once. The social
ist party is te only party that always
knows what its platform is. The
bishop himself can give no slightest
inkling of what the democratic and
republican platforms will be this fall
They will be whatever the politician,
decide to be the greatest vote catch
ers. Such a dishonest method tC
undermine an opponent is unworthy OF
the cheapest pothouse politician, le
alone the mighty magnate Of a grea'
religious hierarchy.
Materialist Basis Beastly.
The bishop does not neglect the ole
tomb-smelling argument which the de
PENDANTS of religious dogmas hav,
never failed to throw at progressiv,
thought and the onward march of sci
enee. He states that the basis of III,
socialist philosophy is materialis
one, that this is beastly and degradei
man to the brute, with various an,
manifold lamentations of the loss OF
/, the spiritual estate and the consequent
degradation of humanity. The social
lists freely admit that the basis of theil
activity is a materialst one. With con
lectures as to immaterial existences, W,
are not concerned while propagatin,
the science of economic welfare. Blu
when the padre undertakes to say tha
il is beastly to be employed on way
and means TO bring about a better ma
terial existence the reply that social
ism throws back 10 him is thar tn,
greatest degradation conceivable ex
lists among human beings to-day be
cause a decent material existence i
not possible to them under the shame
less consequences of capitalist society
As Vandervelde said, the terribl
trinity that is ravaging the working
class is alcoholism, syphilis, and tuber
culosis. As these are all diseases tha
are enhanced by filth, want, and
low standard of living the socialis
asks Of a candid world, which lis tn
more beastly, to remain in the condi
ditions of this material degradation
or to arrange the material condition
according to science and system, s
that ordered and rational productio
shall give physical comfort, develop
ment and opportunity to all
Despotic and brutal indeed must b
the will that would oppose socialisr
on the ground that IL concerns itsel
with the material basis Of life.
Service Of Catholic Church to th
| Working Glass.
At the close Of his lecture the Bisho
took pains TO emphasize the service III
Catholic church had performed to III
working class. He said IL had lifte
them out Of the darkness Of SLAYER
into the light Of freedom.
i We would ask the father wns
single event In hiatorv he would mir