The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-12

italist political state and establish an
Industrial democracy-that is to say.
they will supplant the capitalist gov
eminent OF men with the democratic
administration of things.
To this end they will doubtless pro
coed to take over. as rapidly as may
consistently be done, the essential
means of social production and distri-
button. beginning with those most
highly centralized and monopolized
and most perfectly organized.
From the first. the new administra-
ment to all, and thus one of the great
est evils of the present system will
be overcome Immediately after the
A new national constitution adapted
to the new conditions arising under
the industrial commonwealth will no
doubt have to be adopted. and this
will quite likely be a simple instru-
ment. The senate, Will surely be abol-
ished, the supreme court shorn of its
veto powers, and congress made di-
rectly responsive to the demands and
needs of the people.
EUGENE V. DEBS.
In the Scribners for May, Laurence
Laughlin contributes an article entitl-
ed Socialism Philosophy of
Failure" which deals gently with the
ideals of socialism but makes the
point that the only true socialism is
idealism and that the practical Soc
ialists' of the present day are more
concerned with the material things
than they are with the conditions of
making men ready for the ideal state
under which socialism can really ex-
ist
Thus, while socialism appeals to an
almost universal longing in human
nature, 1t has. on the other hand. the
obvious and inevitable Inconsistencies
of theory detached from the tyran-
meal rule OF fact. While idealizing
the possibilities of human nature to
suit an priori conception of life, un-
til this poor human nature is fairly
unacceptable. socialism proposes, as
one means to its end, to obliterate the
effects of existing conditions by the
removal of competition in the strug-
gle for material existence. That is, it
suggests material means to bring
about ideal conditions. 1t does not
primarily put it's emphasis on the i'm
provement of human nature, but upon
change in the distribution of ma.
terial wealth. The socialists are
seemingly not concerned in building
up an Altruria where the only end is
goodness and where satisfactions are
only spiritual. 1t is what seems to
them the unequal distribution of ma
terial possessions which causes them
TO criticise existing society.
Whatever may be the short comings
OF the socialistic propaganda and how
ever violent or peaceable their doc
trine there is no doubt that we are
going to have to take the matter into
serious consideration. The thing can
not come in day nor in few years
that is not the way of history or OF
any permanent growth. Socialism, II
1t is to come will in all probability be
so slow and unheralded that the
gradual change will not be recognized
as such when the millennium appears
If We compare the dreams of the past
with our present system of govern
ment the philosophers of the past
who had great visions would seem tc
have something to rejoice over in the
very government which seems now sc
irksome to the socialists. And M
doubt there would be quite as much
discomfort in the world were the
| wishes of the socialists granted a
once. Those who pin their faith OF
the working out of history by eyolu
ton rather than by sudden govern
mental change will, whether they are
| socialists or not be nearer the trutl
than those who. like Upton Sinclair
put the date at some definite period
in the future.