The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1909-04-29

would to Christianity if they should call themselves
Christians.
Does socialism contend that society shall own your
home and shift you about at periodic intervals? So
cialism contends that every should own mis- own
home but that he should not be allowed to own the
homes that other required to exist, and thereby
lay tribute on his fellow man.
I have answered your question as | consider cor
rect under socialism as taught and in the past
by leading socialists of the United States am only
farmer boy, and am not the highest authority
socialism, but | think if you will investigate care
fully my answers will be found to voice the sent
ments of the leading socialists of the United States
In conclusion will say that Watson has done some
noble work Tor the rights of the people, but in my
opinion he reap the results only in connection
with the socialist party. w. W. WILkS
Answer The foregoing letter. which it
gives us pleasure to print-proves what we
have SO often asserted,-Most Socialists are
Populists, and not Socialists
This boy-evidently bright, earnest seeker
after ruth,-states the case of Populisn. So
cialism is different thing, altogether.
The national platform of the Socialist party
for 1908 demands the collective ownership of
all public utilities "and all land"
"All' is the most comprehensive word in
the English language. If all the land is owned
by Society, where will Jones and Smith and
Brown find land which they may buy and
build dwellings, on? How can the Govern
ment own all the land, and yet leave room for
the private ownership of homes?
The truth of the matter is that Our Socialist
leaders have borrowed the principles of Popu-
l1sm to do business on, and they have fooled
a lot of honest converts. Socialist orators de-
nounce Special Privilege, just as the Pops do,
nd in this they are right But they conceal
from their deluded followers the all-important
fact that Special Privilege is departure from
fundamental Democracy, and that to cure the
ills complained of nothing more is needed than
the repeal of class legislation and the restora-
ton of equal and exact justice in the making
OF our laws.
In other words, Socialism and Popusm at
tack the same abuses, but differ as to RENE
dies. Populism recognizes that inherent, i'm
perishable feeling of individuality which causes
every normal man to want a mate that is
exclusively his woman a spot of mother earth
that is his exclusive home, and the personal
freedom which makes him his own Captain
The Home Rule for which nations strive until
they get it, is nothing in the world but indi-
v1dualism asserting itself collectively. The
individuality Of the man asserts itself in the
determination of his country to rule itself
There is no danger of civil war in Populis1n's
demand for the public ownership of public
utilities. The time is not distant when the
people interested in the operation of railroads
will be glad to sell out to the Government, and
take Government stocks and bonds instead of
the fluctuating securities which are at the mer-
cy OF spectators, reorganizers and robbers like
Pat Calhoun, ]. p Morgan, E. H. Hartman
and their kind
But the proposition to confscate private