The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-12-04
The Meaning of Socialism.

loosely that their political discus
sions are made ridiculous. A re-
cent article in the London Times
should Eserve to -enlighten these
gentlemen, for it shows that the
term in general use in Germany is
social democracy" which has a
definite meaning, while in France
the word "collectiveism" is the
most common, and is used to give
an idea of what socialism stands
for.
these two words" says the
Times, "give the key to the proper
meaning of socialism, as recogniz-
ed now by all the socialist organi-
cations. It is that laid dewn in
Schaeffle's 'Quintessence of Social
ISM and since crystallized in the
formula-the oscillation or the
collective ownership of all the
means of production, distribution
and exchange. There are minor
shades of expression to which some
of the sects may attach Importance,
but the broad significance is the
same everywhere, and it is perfect.
ly clear and definite. What the
organized socialists aim at is the
transference of property from PR
vate to public ownership. Some
would transfer all property, others
would draw the line here and there;
but they all want to transfer prop
erty. That is the one definite and
distinctive criterion; and though
any man may call himself a social
list and say socialism is this, that
or the other, the socialism that
matters, that alone has force, CO.
herence, and a recognizable mark,
is that which is concerned with the
ownership of property and its
transference In one way or an
other" 8
In this country the politicians
have been industrious in encourage
ing the idea that there is really no
difference between an anarchist
and a socialist; that the two stand
for one and the same thing, and
each is a disreputable fellow who
spends all his time making dyna-
unite bombs and plotting for the
destruction of government. But
as a matter of fact the bomb-throw-
ing industry is monopolized by the
anarchists who array themselves
against all law and all government.
The socialists, on the other hand,
stand for government of law based
on certain principals, such for ex-
ample as the public ownership of
the railroads, telegraph and tele-
phone lines, express companies and
all the public utilities, the same
to be conducted for the benefit of
the people. In fine the socialist
movement means in q general sense
the transference of property from
private to public ownership, hence
the difference between an anarchist
and socialist is the difference be-
tween darkness and daylight
Daily States.
The idea of "social democracy"
and "collectiveism," is embodied
IN the teachings of the Democratic
party of this country, as is shown
BY its motto: "Of the people, for
The people and by the people"
True, the Democratic party has
never yet gone into the Communis-
tic or Socialistic proposition of
the collective ownership of all the |
means of production, distribution
md exchange" but it has always
sought to, regulate and control
hese matters for the general good. |
For this reason We contend that
,ur Socialist friends are Demo-
rats run wild with fanaticism.
Socialists are advocating the old
Athenian Democracy or "mobocra-
"" whore the people assumed all
be powers of government, and
which experiment resulted in the
DOWNFALL of the commonwealth.
The question of the enforcement
I law by the people themselves,
r by representatives to whom
hey delegate their power, is an
Id one, and it has been fought
ut on hundreds of fields, until the
act has been established that the
eople as a mass cannot rule with