New-York tribune., 1908-03-09
PLEA FOR COMMUNISM.
FOR 4 LEADER.
DR.. Fan Eeden Points to SdtUation
.4rsHU Gs an Exam pie.

Prudforr,e with \ difference, OF Holland the diff
ference being in that he coupled actualities With
theories. addressed the Civic Forum at Carnegie
Hall last evening coming here especially from
Bussum to explain his work The audience was
sympathetic. applauding every altruistic idea ad-
vanced. He gave a history of his successfui e@-
periments i'm Holland, and pleaded for an army IN
dustrial, based on the Salvation Army ldea, 10 pe
snread oyer the world TO act as a eaven in the ad-
vancenaent of civilization. Go to the bee Tor an
example of having but not monopoiizns was the
earnest advice he gave.
In opening he said that the Old World they
used to have kings. at time, for each ha'ioh''
Here he found oil kings steel kings, sugar kings
and railway kings. But he said that he was HOOK
Ing for a leader of communism for the world one
Ch-ist-Iike selfdenial that would give the
cause the right incentive 10 success
Hamilton Holt the editor of ''The New YORK IN
dependent introduced DR.. van Eeden MT ftoit
called attention O DR.. Eeden's work for Prao-
ticaI reform Holland in the face OF many ana al
most unsurnountable difficulties
The doctor in beginning bis address, said:
Now don't call me names and say am a com
munist a socialist. anarchist, coIecuNs! or
what you like Don't bother over WORDS Ion .bnr m
AFRAID of communism, of socialism or any othsr
ism Look for what is right and try 10 90 il, -
communism means the possession OF gooos III gG,
communism sprinsiEg up eyerywnsre ssIIr sun
not communism? Is Yellowstone Park not COM
Nv experience taught me in a decisive way that
our original form of communism as practlsed oy
The ancient Christians according to the Gospel is
not only utterly Impossible. but also undesiraoe;
We all people who maintain that even yeiio IN
@ me apsTne Of Christ and His Apostles the let
ter and do away with private property THIS $ sor. orr
of people also ocked to me at the snh ne % may
easily assure yourselves that # is no use at al TO TO
tell these people how history teaches us over ana
over again that idealsm is untenabe
ANALYSIS OF COMMUNISM.
Tho sneaker then pointed out that the most IA
natfcal communists in his experience were the
first to complain of the painful and afnhe'at sltua
ton They yearned for their private nome llAe.
with its family ties and personal possessions anu
realized that the so-called communal liberty was
worse than slavery. But said the doctor, 1t was
not especially convincing in placing the niane
when each condemned his fellows as hypocrites or
impostors. Getting down to the analytical part OF
his address DR.. Van Eeden said:
We want to know first of ALL what goods ought
u become property in well ordered eonI9na1yd if ad
rghtfa way with Capital and rent; not to do away
with them as these fanatics would have us to e d0'
for civilized mankind could not exist Wlihou 'iT,
but to handle them ably. fairly ana lusIlE' te
i # 10 al. hhow eG,,ftae GT d strtion not to do
with wealth, for poverty is moi at .. d I and
Ta @nen hSs eres mag maT InoW 15 SsS i''''
II is so very clear that the present social nstitu-
lions of mankind are suicidal, being pernici0us Tor
the individual and the race, that II we olu @ iot
Certain errors and the inertia Of the mind Of the the
So thoushtlessIy work for his own undoing. The
great danger in this is that the o mQsf he own
gs sc quantity of wealth that long be
fore they lose their working power theF nav hsve Ss
live in the greatest luxury they and their childTe @
WaI P DC DON'T Gf 2s Sn5 danger in the that the
es{ , lo 9 "a a' give them full satisfaction
Rut the Imminent danger for rs all for socieIy ~
and ndiydqs an Gr has i before at9 ' him the Tob
giving up labor altogether and OF LIVING on MS
witbcnt 2Ghey'4 giving e any equivalent useful work
MEANS OF PRODUCTION,
Creanfzation continued the doctor. strict. power
fur perfectly functionatng organization, was the
all commanding condition of communism, and es-
pecialIy of land communism Still he thought 'he
most important would be communication OF the
means of production. Capital itself and It's invest
ment he declared. must first step be COM
n..nized While these interdependent in the
general scheme he made the foregoing difeTentia-
ton. Then went into detail, continuing with an
appeal TO all malcontents:
The communication of capital and rent. the trans
the community. that is the first and more i'm
Dortant step We have to make. in the interest," OF
all humanity. That is to say. means Of prodCc-
tion, common property, accumulaton-capltal and
ren1-in the hands OF the community. wages given
according the given work, after the standard Of
general appreciation shown by supply and deIna nd
not doing away with and capital. but taking
il out Of the hands of the private individual be
| cause individual is strong enough TO bear the
I freedom and the power Of unbounded wealth.
put this question before all malcontents, before
and class fighters Why do YOU not all join hands
and make laws and institutions and rules after
think Just bringing capital possession,
outgrowing and outwitting the political states and
/ YOUR opponents? My practical experiments have
given me the answer which the theorists could not
J give me ., ... -. - -, .,,o ;,,7o-
pendently ana nationally acting animals they thinz
/ themselves 10 be. Men are acting and thinking
! always more or less herdwjse. under the influence
Of great leading minds and strong spiritual cur
rents If men thinking and acting nationally
and inaependently. q great commercial body with a
Just and righteous social organization could easily
and quickly be formed and it would because OF IT'S
greater preservation and strength easily out
grow au other human corporations and orsaniza-
T3tf in the present condition Of mankind such
cn1-3r0nitv will not be formed unless great pow
I'm mind 2 commercial and organizing genius.
lzss The matter IN hand and all his life and
heart 10 IT, The fact IS humating, but we must
accept IT,
AK IDEAL SALVATION ARMY.
+ Dr. Van -Ecden held up the bee communities as
ideals for human organization but. with deVia-
+fo,,e he referred 20 the Salvation Army prot"-
,,,,a or what can he done social WAY. He
world have \ salvation army that would prevent
the making of dcstitutes and sinners. Such an
army he said far more wanted than the re-
rfgio,s organization Under Eve heads he tabuated
his scheme:
: Salvation Arny which saved mankind from the
nhoIesal destruction OF good character and ca
pacities Of morals and intellect. by un bounded pr
vatA wealth and its consequent extravaganza idie-
/ : saITation Army which did business-hard. ser-
without falling into the snare of self
destruction which now awaits every prosperous
A SaIvstion Army which accumulated unbounded
capital by trade and commerce. b3t never allowed
ito to fools 6 y too much fy n and
res aNeinGd TIM Insurer and the parasite allow
ing of its members still fit for work 70
spend his time in idleness the common goods in
4 saSation Army which suffered neither spend
ing for " want of work which ook care Of its old
workers and iItvads m an honorl'pie; @ nod hGn,a num-
bounded liberality as the great uplifting factors