Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-12-07
SOCIALISM.
Two Men Discuss Its Features Before
Wausau Audiences.

During the past week Wausau peo-
pie had the pleasure of listening to
two highly educated men discuss the
point of opposition to the principle
the Y. NJ. G.. A, spoke in the opera
house on Tuesday evening. He was
followed in the same building Wednes-
day night by Prof. j. G. Monaghan,
under the auspices of the K. G.
society.
Socialism, while new in this coun-
try, is in reality very old. We find
traces of it in Dean Swift's writings,
and it may be of older origin for
ought we know. Victor Hugo, in
Lies Miserables," tells us of the un-
rest in France resulting in the revolu-
tion, when streets were barricaded and
blood flowed Labriola, in his "Mate-
rialistic Conception of History" places
the beginning of the propaganda as
at the time the Communist Mani
festo was issued. Books upon books
have been written on the subject,
and yet the theory is little under
stood today, even by educated men.
One reason is that there are so many
forms of socialism Each set or
clique of so-called socialists have pet
ideas of their own, and none agree on
all points In spite of its chaotic
state and, we might say, embryotic
organization, it is gaining III numbers
yearly, until the society has accum-
ulated enough strength to eject
representatives to the English parlia-
ment, TO the German reichstag and
even to our own state legislatures.
Its strength has caused alarm in these
countries, especially in clerical cir
cles. 1t is claimed that the doctrine
of socialism destroys tenets which
have been recognized as the founda-
tion stones of government and relig-
ion since the world has existed.
Frank Dixon, in his lecture Tues
day, said that many people confound-
ed socialism with anarchism, which
is wrong, because the anarchist
would destroy government, commit
ting murder to do so, whereas, the
socialist believes in a system Of gov
ernment, and would gain his points
through peaceful means. The anar-
chlst would have no control OF the
masses, each individual being law
unto himself. The socialist would be
regulated in his acts by the law, adj
ministered according to ideas not In
vogue at present.
THE Man Against the Mass, as
interpreted by Mr.. Dixon, Is the
theory that il is the individual who IS
accomplishing and making possible
the forward steps in this country,
and not the mass. In other words II
is undiyidualism which is winning,
and the system of socialism is a de-
stroyer Of this principle because
socialism aims for the governmental
control of everything, putting every
one on an equal basis and destroying
individual effort.
Prof. Monaghan gave what he
termed a history of anarchy and
socialism. He placed the origin of
the former as in Russia; the latter as
being born i'm Germany.
Excessive taxation of the common
people, oppressive laws and tyrannl-
cal methods OF government and con-
ditions which have reduced the
masses 10 beggary and starvation, ne
said. were responsible for the birth
/ of the anarchist movement
In Germany. several forms Of social
ism have sprung up, said he, Of which
the Carl Marx form is the best
known. The doctrine Of this system
is: that as labor produces all the
wealth of the world. labor should
have its share of the benefits. The
general plan of the system, however,
according 10 the views of the speak
/ er, would destroy religion and the
home, and instead of bringing about