The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-02-17

Discussed
Both Sides of the Proposition Set
Forth in a Very Able and
Entertaining Manner.

Entertaining Manner.
:
Paper Read Before the Chautauqua Circle.
In submitting to your criticism my t
opinion Of the Socialistic doctrine, I c
am conscious of its bias and numerous ]
defects, but as it was written with Il e {
object of eliciting information upon a t
subject in which feel myself interest I
ed, its errors are more than likely to I
prove the means for the accomplish
ment of my purpose.
Socialism is not new doctrine,
al d its principles have been advo-
Gated for centuries. It is only during
recent years that serious
efforts have been made forits establish
ment. The reason that Socialism has
failed to make favorable impression
is principally because it is at variance
with certain theological precepts, and
that 1t is materialistic. Unieceived by
the glitter of ecclesiastical pomp or
calmly and persistently sought to le
veal the fact that these baubles are
purchased at the price of blood.
There is nothing mystical about
Socialism, mundane in it's every ess en-
tial, it advocates the bestowal upon
living man, of those blessings the
Church reserves for the dead-a politi-
Cal creed, whose disciple, believe them
selves possessed of formula, which il
applied, would restore to human society
conditions more saratory than those
which at present prevail. Its principal
desires are abolition of partisanship
and monopoly, with elimination of the
evils such practices engender.
That no existing form of government
has yet attained Perfection is a safe
assertion. That education and freedom
from theological thraldOm will event.
ually evolve system of government
more cOnsiderate of the interests of the
working classes is substantiated by re-
!, cent political developments in every
country within the zone of civilization.
!, Socialism must not be confOunded with
> the pIeAchings of egomaniacs or the
} declamations of Gemagonges whose
plea for equalization means self-eleva
!. tion, nor with the rantings of anarchists
who imagine the only way to restore
S equipoise is to turn things tOpsyturvy
e Tie term Equalization which plays
} such an important part in Socialistie
8 Propaganda is the rock upon which
s numbers of neophytes have beer
b wrecked. What in socialistic sens,
;. is the meaning of Equalization? Doe
). it mean the reduction of society to
d common level? Of the impossibilit.
of snch procedure every intelllgen
Socialist is aware. Men are equal il
n the grave. but living there is the sam
st difference in wisdom, propensity an
It breeding, as between the various spe
+ cies of domestic animals. Equalizs
n tion is an abstract term, which ca
le only be comprehended by knowledge G
each of the principles embraced
- That hereditary bequests of poWe
" are crimes of parents against the
n children, is socialistic belief. Ths
We land is the possession of neither perso
at nor party, but belongs to the peop
collectively and should be utilized
at such a manner as would prove mo
advantageous to them-that, as WI
re, stated, during the recent parlimenta
ha upheaval in Britain, "where in cou
/. try numbering its population by Z
ed million ten thousand posse s the lane
he there is need f5r reform.
,ae While Socialism would not curt'
a the aspirations of "a Y, it demands tn
ed all shall 81 are in the labors reqnis
Du, for the maintel ance of civi lied sociel
10 that privileg shall be forever abolis
,is led; that none sia re permitted to
yp, cumulate vast fortunes at the expaf
yer of those who's lives wasted in acoul
!. o. o. of nnresalmeratiye lahors, are event
ally consigned to the poor house or
= Ftsss& - 81 / -EssatsaiA ~ y