The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-04-28

enthusiasm for labor because their
efforts met with better appreciation?
To quote again from the article
mentioned, Socialism is opposed to
inequalities of condition, wealth and
reward" Just so! But mark the
word, inequalities! A uniform reward,
regardless Of the labor performed
wouldnot be equal, any more than SUI
perior reward to superior would
be unequal. Equal rights to all,
special privilege to none. is the slo-
gan. The statement that t he fear
of poverty is a stimulus melting men
to greater effort means practically
that men improve when under the
influence of the most immoral and
demoralizing ofall Weaknesses
Certainly it may incite to greater ef-
fort but not to nobler Fear is more
than weakness. 1t is an evil, and
evil is the fruit thereof AS well ex- (
pect an oak tree planted in a cellar,
and denied light and nourishment to
attain the sturdiness of its specie that
grows unhampered on the plain, as to
expect from fear for each tomor-
row the accomplishment of tasks that
require courage and tranquility of
mind and soul. Fear of men or God
is slavery and degeneration. Love
of either is progress and freedom.
Another statement that is contro-
vertible is: Some of them the So
ciallsts) even go so far as to think
that if poverty could be eliminated
men would become moral beings both
in theory a nd N practice" Many
others besides Socialists believe this
and as men become more enlightened
the belief gains ground. The most
moral of all classes is that known as
the middle class, composed o t m n
who labor with hand and brain, who
though not rich, are beyond the reach
of poverty. The evil in the world,
or the greater part of it, is shared be-
tween the over-laden, and the empty,
the plutocrat and the pauper, both
of them extremes and the product of
a defective system. More than eighty
per cent of offenders against the law
be long to the poor or proletarian
class Why is this? Is it that they
are moulded from different clay or
created by different God than He
who fashions the more fortunate
members of their specie? Or is it
the result of the conditions und er
which they live? Personally, in
cline to the latter belief. III Human
nature is the same, whether drap-
ed with the robes of prelate or ar
rayed in the garb of s b b la C k.
For the difference'that exists exterior
forces are reponsible.
The assertion that there is nothing
in the experience of man to justify
the belief that improved social condi-
tlons would result in moral improve
ment is refuted by statistics the world
over. An increase of poverty means
an increase of immortality. 1t is sim
ply case of cause II d effect. So
cialism should not be condemned be-
: cause something resembling t has
proved failure. There are some Gin
, this | make no allusion to the author
. previously mentioned,) who seek to
, illustrate the impossibilies of Social
ism with scenes culled from the haunts
, of the cannibal, a practice denounce
t as a violation of t b e Marquis of
Queensberry's rules. Between Com
, munism, Tribalism and Socialism
: there is the same difference as be-
: tween bigotry and Christianity.
The basic principle of Socialism
: briefly is this: God m a d e the Uni
l verse of which man is part. For
: all things that live and have need of
7 sustenance provision has been made
9 and. he or she for that matter who
7 appropriates more than is needed is,
either crook or a glutton. Finally,
/ wish to say in expiation for any
: hardness this criticism may contain
9 that / have the deepest respect for
t the author of the paper | have mem
: toned, and believe he will under
t stand me when | say that in matters
e of this description no man can pre-
t ltend to a knowledge that is final.
n Herein | have merely expressed an
b opinion that is based upon my inter-
: probation of doctrine | admire.
r D. M.